By Yemie Adeoye

ABUJA — THE Federal Government has commenced plans to convert the National Technical Institute, NTI, in Bonny, Rivers State to a federal Polytechnic in the first Quarter of year 2011.

The Executive Secretary of Petroleum Technology Development Fund, PTDF, Mr. Muttaqha Rabe Darma, stated this in Abuja, when he hosted the newly appointed Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE, Dr. M.A Kazaure and his team.

Darma stated that Vice President Alhaji Namadi Sambo, instructed him to ensure that the institute takes off not later than the first quarter next year.

He also used the opportunity to intimate his guest of the need for the two agencies to work together to ensure a quick delivery on the project.

He said, “Just recently we were directed to convert the National Technical Institute in Bonny to a federal polytechnic. The VP has directed that that polytechnic must come to be by first quarter of 2011. It is up to NBTE to provide personnel, curriculum and other operational logistics.

“Whatever you need for at least the gas technology training arm to commence by first quarter of next year, PTDF would provide, in order to ensure a smooth takeoff as directed by Mr. Vice President.”

Furthermore, he said that about 65 percent of the workers in the oil and gas industry are actually skilled technicians of various backgrounds, and believed that NBTE has the capacity to give education to Nigerians in this regard.

“One of the biggest projects the PTDF is doing now is the Federal Polytechnic for Oil and Gas, to be sited in Ekowa, Bayelsa state, and this is the biggest in sub-Saharan Africa with all the necessary state of the art laboratory and technical equipments.”

Kazaure, thanking the PTDF scribe, said he was on a familiarisation tour of the agency, as majority of the issues he had treated since assumption of office two weeks ago, concerned the fund.

“This is my first official assignment outside the office. I’ve looked critically at the laws governing our both organizations and discovered we share a lot in common.

“Hence I have come this afternoon to urge you to continue to support us. I am not oblivious of the fact that your core mandate is oil and gas and would want to assure you that we will also continue to support you just as we seek your continued support.”