Abuja — The Federal Executive Council yesterday ratified President Umaru Musa Yar'adua's anticipatory approval of the N14 billion contract awarded for the upgrading of the National College of Petroleum Studies, Kaduna.

The Minister of State for Information and Communication, Alhaji Aliyu Ikra Bilbis announced the approval after the council's meeting. He said the college would serve as a centre for enhancing the skills and competencies of the senior technical and management personnel in the oil and gas industry.

Throwing more light on the objectives of upgrading the college, the Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Engineer Muttaqha Rabe Darma said the college which was established some sixteen years ago for the purpose of training the senior personnel of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), would now be upgraded to train all the senior personnel in the entire oil and gas industry.

Engineer Darma said the Petroleum Training Institute in Efurun, Warri, Delta State, was also upgraded recently, saying the institute is meant for training the junior personnel in the oil and gas industry.