Before Now:
Former President Obasanjo’s administration had promised to upgrade the Petroleum Training Institute in Efurun, Delta state to a University. This inspired the state Government to donate N250 million as take-off grant to the university before the former president left office in 2007.
Former President Obasanjo’s administration had promised to upgrade the Petroleum Training Institute in Efurun, Delta state to a University. This inspired the state Government to donate N250 million as take-off grant to the university before the former president left office in 2007.
And Now:
THE AJUMOGOBIA EXECUSE: “The issue of the location of various institutions is a separate issue and I think, in this country the beauty of democracy is we have an opportunity to air our views and have an accommodation of all those conflicting views. Everybody can’t be pleased and if there is any section of the country that feels dissatisfied with any decision that has been taken, the beauty of our democracy is that we can talk about it.
“There is a misunderstanding. Let me clear that misunderstanding. I was privy and party to that decision to focus on middle level manpower in terms of the development of the PTI at Efurun because the oil and gas industry today in terms of local content policy. I hope the petroleum Industry Bill when passed and the Local content Bill when that is also passed by the National Assembly will ensure there is greater participation of Nigerians in the petroleum industry.
“Now, for the time being and the foreseeable future the greatest level of manpower that is going to access our policy of local content will be the low and middle level manpower which is located in Efurun. The graduate and post graduate activities, I am not sure that it really matters where that is located because the key of the industry is going to be in the Niger Delta”, he explained.
“Now, for the time being and the foreseeable future the greatest level of manpower that is going to access our policy of local content will be the low and middle level manpower which is located in Efurun. The graduate and post graduate activities, I am not sure that it really matters where that is located because the key of the industry is going to be in the Niger Delta”, he explained.
Why And How Petroleum Minister, Rilwan Lukman Won:
When the minister of petroleum resources, Alhaji Rilwan Lukman, made a presentation at one of the weekly meetings of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on the proposal to move the Petroleum University to Kaduna, none of the ministers from the oil producing areas opposed him.
Lukman presented his memo justify the plan to confine the Warri institute to the production of lower and middle level manpower for the oil industry. He argued that it is only reasonable that another part of the country, preferably Kaduna State in the North should host the institution for production of manpower on graduate and post-graduate studies. He was supported by non other than the minister of state in the Ministry of Niger Delta Mr. Godsday Orubebe.
Surprisingly, other ministers from the South- south zone, who were expected to have argued against the policy said nothing, hence, the policy to relocate the university to Kaduna scaled through unopposed.
Apart from Orubebe, other ministers from states in the Niger Delta and who were present at the FEC meeting were: Maj-Gen. Godwin Abbe (rtd), Obong Ufot Ekaette, Odein Ajumogobia, Grace Ekpiwhre, Diezani Allison-Madueke and John Odey.
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