Leadership (Abuja)
Golu Timothy
29 October 2009
Abuja — The Federal Government has approved that massive infrastructure be provided for the Niger Delta region as part of the post- amnesty programme which is expected to turn around the fortunes of the restive area.
To this end, the Federal Executive Council yesterday approved a total of 44 projects and upgrading of other facilities as a way of fast-tracking the development and transformation of the area.While the 44 projects will cost government N179 billion to be executed through the Niger Delta Development Commission,NDDC, two other projects at the Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas Bayelsa, and the Petroleum Development Institute (PTI),will cost N14 billion and N5billion,respectively.
Addressing State House correspondents after the weekly meeting which was presided over by President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, the information and communications Minister,Prof.Dora Akunyili said the projects covered roads, drainages, bridges, hospitals, educational facilities, housing, etc.She said a whooping N14.8 billion contract was approved for the final development of the Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas located at Ekoye in Bayelsa State. While N75 billion will be committed for the general building works, civil works will consume over N5billion while electrical and mechanical services have N2.1 billion allocated to them and all to be completed within the period of four weeks.Akunyili said, following deliberations between the Niger Delta stakeholders and the Federal Government, the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, PTDF, was mandated to establish a Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas in Ekoye and the institution is to specialise in the studies of petroleum, gas and environmental engineering and will be handed over to the National Board for Technical Education for academic and administrative purposes on completion.
She said already, NBTE has appointed a rector and a management board for the polytechnic.According to her, "The PTDF has commenced the first phase of the project which comprised infrastructural development such as departmental buildings, lecture halls, laboratories, workshops, hostels, library, administrative blocks and ancillary facilities and are at various stages of completion. The memo was tabled by Mr. President, seeking the council's approval for the award of the contracts for the final development of the federal polytechnic, and following deliberations, the council considered it and gave approval.Akunyili added that FEC also gave approval for the award of contract for the upgrading of facilities at the Petroleum Training Institute, Effurun in Delta State and the development of the National College of Petroleum Studies in Kaduna."Part of the programme of action approved by government for the PTDF was the upgrading of the infrastructure and facilities at the Petroleum Training Institute, Effurun, in a bid to address the problem of inadequate indigenous, middle level technical manpower in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria', she said. The contract sum was N5.727 billion.
The projects to be upgraded include, the supply, installation and commissioning of test simulator, drilling training simulator, commissioning of units operations laboratory, coiled tubing simulator and completion of two hostels.Equally, FEC approved the contract for the development of the National College of Petroleum Studies, Kaduna, at the cost of N412,404 million with the objective of enhancing skills and competence of oil and gas industry personnel at the senior technical, general management and senior executive level, as well as the evolvement of qualifications and certified programmes in line with most major oil and gas training institutes in the world.The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, also got the attention of FEC as the highest decision body yesterday, ratified the approval for the purchase of one unit M1-17 Search and Rescue Helicopter to enhance its statutory functions at the cost of $14.141 million at the prevailing exchange rate at the time of payment, with 12 weeks as delivery period.
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