Sahara Reporters has been harshly condemned by the National Urhobo Vanguard Apex Body for allegedly spreading “malicious and misleading falsehoods” against the administration of the Petroleum Training Institute (P.T.I.) in Effurun, Delta State.
The group characterized the publication as a deliberate attempt to damage the institute’s reputation and mislead the public with unverified claims of flooded classrooms and snake-infested hostels in a press statement issued on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, and jointly signed by Chief Daniel Umukoro and Hon. Bamwa Austine (Chairman).
The organization, which speaks for a number of Urhobo interest groups around the country, claimed to have conducted an impartial evaluation of P.T.I. facilities and to have concluded that the accusations were malicious and without merit.
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Part of the statement said, “As a socio-cultural watchdog dedicated to truth and transparency, we visited the campus and found that all classrooms, dorms, and equipment are in excellent condition, with modern drainage systems in place to prevent any form of flooding.”
The group also threatened to take legal action to seek redress if Sahara Reporters did not issue a public apology in three national publications within seven days.
“This type of journalism is risky and immoral. It threatens hard-working, forward-thinking institutions. According to the statement, P.T.I. is still regarded as one of the most prestigious universities in the Niger Delta.
The National Urhobo Vanguard Apex Body urged the public to ignore the untrue news, pointing out that such publications simply operate as a diversion from the institute’s progress.
