The bill for establishment of a Petroleum Training Institute in Ibeno, the host community of International Oil Companies in Akwa Ibom State has passed a second reading at the House of Representatives.
In a statement by the media unit of the member representing Eket/ONNA/Esit Eket/Ibeno Federal Constituency, Hon. Okpolupm Etteh on Friday, the bill, when passed would put to use the abandoned ultramodern skill acquisition centre, constructed and equipped by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.
The statement noted that the proposed bill is cited as “A Bill for an Act to Establish Petroleum Training Institute Ibeno, Akwa Ibom State to provide full-time courses of Instruction, Training and Research in petroleum technology and Produce Technicians and other Skilled Personnel required to run the Petroleum Industry and for Related Matters (HB.362).”
Leading Members on the debate, Hon. Etteh, who is the Sponsor and Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on University Education, said the legislation “seeks the development of the petroleum industry through technological advancement. It also seeks, among other things, to put in place a legal framework for the establishment of the Petroleum Training Institute in Ibeno to make comprehensive provisions for its due Management and Administration.”
While urging members of the House to support the passage of the bill, Hon. Etteh further stated that “the proposed Training Institute would provide technical knowledge for oil industry personnel so that Nigeria reduces dependence on foreign experts.”
His words, “Our country is heavily dependent on over 95 percent of foreign exchange earnings and Eket/ONNA/Esit-Eket/Ibeno Federal Constituency, is home to a good number of International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in Nigeria including ExxonMobil, Network Production and Exploration Limited, Savannah Energy, Total E&F, Oando Oil and Gas, Chevron, Universal Energy, and Sterling Oil and the ongoing BUA Petrochemical Refining Complex, because of the large deposits of mineral and petroleum resources. These deposits have, over the years, contributed significantly to the economy of this country, and it is pertinent and nationalistic to establish a Petroleum Training Institute in Ibeno.
“It might interest you to know that our IOCs still rely on expatriates in some specific areas, and there is an urgent need to train and equip our people with the requisite information and knowledge required by the industry, especially in the use of modern techniques which can only be taught and instructed from the learning environment.”
The statement added that after the Bill was voted on, the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the plenary, approved the Bill for a second reading and thereafter referred it to the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream).
