Operations at Oil Mining Lease (OML-18) in Rivers State have ground to a halt following industrial action by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria.

The OML-18 facility, located along the Cawthorne Channel between Degema and Akuku Toru Local Government Areas, was shut down as the union took a stand against NNPC Eighteen Operating Limited (NEOL), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

In a strike directive issued on Wednesday by PENGASSAN’s Port Harcourt Zonal Assistant General Secretary, Sere Nwikiabeh, members were ordered to “withdraw your services immediately until our demands are met.”

READ ALSO:PENGASSAN Fingers Military In 600,000-barrel Daily Stolen

According to the union, the shutdown follows the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum and an additional grace period without any resolution. PENGASSAN accused NEOL management of being “adamant to our demands” despite repeated engagements.

The association said its grievances include the non-deduction and remittance of outstanding check-off dues for members attached to ND Engineering Limited, the failure to redeploy such members to other contractors, management’s refusal to respond to its Charter of Demands for the commencement of branch Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations, and the continued non-recognition of the Branch Executive Committee’s “due rights and privileges.”

In an earlier letter dated July 14, 2025, PENGASSAN accused NEOL of “persistent unfair labour practices,” including failure to remit check-off dues, refusal to address its Charter of Demands, and ignoring the elected branch leadership.

READ ALSO:Fresh Fuel Scarcity Looms As PENGASSAN Threatens To Shut Down Installations Over Oil Theft

“Despite several reminders and engagements, management has continually failed to address these matters,” the letter stated.

The union warned that the strike will continue until NEOL addresses all concerns, stressing that it is prepared to take every lawful step necessary to safeguard members’ rights and interests.

The action, it added, will significantly disrupt operations at NEOL until an agreement is reached.

The Federal Government has imposed a seven-year moratorium on the establishment of new federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, citing the proliferation of under-utilised institutions, overstretched resources, and a drop in academic quality.

The decision was approved at Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, following a presentation by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa.

FEC, however, approved nine new universities despite the freeze.

Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, Alausa said the challenge in Nigeria’s tertiary education system was no longer access but inefficient duplication, poor infrastructure, inadequate staffing, and dwindling enrolment in many existing institutions.

READ ALSO:FG Unveils New Counter-terrorism Strategy

“Several federal universities operate far below capacity, with some having fewer than 2,000 students. In one northern university, there are 1,200 staff serving fewer than 800 students. This is a waste of government resources,” he stated.

The minister noted that 199 universities received fewer than 100 applications through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board last year, with 34 recording zero applications.

Of the 295 polytechnics nationwide, he said, many had fewer than 99 applicants, while 219 colleges of education also posted poor enrolment figures, including 64 with no applications at all.

Alausa warned that unchecked proliferation of poorly subscribed institutions risked producing ill-prepared graduates, eroding the value of Nigerian degrees internationally, and worsening unemployment.

READ ALSO:FG Urges Nigerians Abroad To Register With Embassies For Emergency Support

He explained that the moratorium would enable the government to channel resources into upgrading facilities, hiring qualified staff, and expanding the carrying capacity of existing institutions.

“If we want to improve quality and not be a laughing stock globally, the pragmatic step is to pause the establishment of new federal institutions,” he said.

Nigeria currently has 72 federal universities, 42 federal polytechnics, and 28 federal colleges of education, in addition to hundreds of state-owned and private tertiary institutions, as well as specialised schools such as colleges of agriculture, health sciences, and nursing.

The minister confirmed that FEC, however, approved nine new universities at the meeting.

He clarified that the approved universities were private institutions whose applications had been pending for up to six years and had undergone full evaluation by the National Universities Commission.

READ ALSO:Amnesty International Slams FG Over Six-year Silence On Missing Activist Dadiyata

“When we assumed office, there were 551 applications for private universities. Many had been stuck due to inefficiencies at the NUC. We deactivated over 350 dormant applications and set new, stricter guidelines. Of the 79 active cases, nine met the criteria and were approved,” Alausa said.

He added that billions of naira had already been invested in infrastructure for the approved institutions.

He stressed that the moratorium also extends to new private polytechnics and colleges of education to prevent further under-enrolment.

Alausa commended Tinubu for supporting the reform, describing it as a reset button for Nigeria’s tertiary education.

“Mr President believes fervently in education and has given us the mandate to ensure every Nigerian has access to the highest quality of education comparable to anywhere in the world,” he added.

The Federal Government has announced plans to engage Fuji star, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM 1, as an ambassador for proper airport security protocol, after the recent controversy over his conduct at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
‎
‎This was disclosed on Wednesday by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, in a statement outlining resolutions to recent cases of unruly behaviour at Nigerian airports.
‎
‎Keyamo said the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority had agreed to reduce KWAM 1’s flight ban to one month and would work with the musician to promote awareness on acceptable conduct within the aviation space.
‎
‎The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria will lead the engagement process.

READ ALSO:Man Jailed For Cybercrime, Forfeits Cars, Land, $42,000 To FG
‎
‎”The NCAA is to reduce his flight ban to a one-month period. FAAN will also work with the music star with a view to engaging him as an ambassador for proper airport security protocol going forward.
‎
‎”Having publicly demonstrated penitence, the NCAA is also to withdraw its criminal complaints against KWAM 1 earlier lodged with the police,” the statement read.
‎
‎The minister added that the decision followed appeals from well-meaning individuals, as well as KWAM 1’s public show of penitence over the August 5 incident in which he allegedly obstructed a ValueJet aircraft’s movement.
‎
‎Keyamo also revealed that the NCAA would withdraw its criminal complaints against the artiste.

READ ALSO:NCAA Stops Fuji Star K1 De Ultimate From Flying For Six Months
‎
‎The development comes days after the musician apologised to the public, insisting the flask he carried on the day of the incident contained water for medical reasons and not alcohol, as was alleged by security personnel.
‎
‎The minister emphasised that the clemency was granted on “compassionate grounds” , warning that the government remained committed to enforcing safety and security laws in the aviation sector.
‎
‎On August 5, KWAM 1 was involved in a confrontation with airline staff and security officials at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, while attempting to board a ValueJet flight to Lagos.

READ ALSO: Air Peace Jet Hits Antelope At Asaba Airport, NCAA Reacts
‎
He was accused of carrying a prohibited flask believed to contain alcohol, spilling its contents on personnel, and later walking onto the aircraft’s tarmac, allegedly blocking the plane from taxiing.
‎
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority described the act as a breach of aviation safety regulations and initially placed him on a six-month no-fly list while filing a criminal complaint with the police.