The Federal Government has set December 2025 as the deadline for completing the Petroleum Technology Development Fund Centre for Skills and Development Training in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The centre, which has been under construction since 2011, is designed to train low- and middle-level manpower in various vocations relevant to the oil and gas industry.
The Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, issued this directive during an inspection of the facility, emphasising its importance in equipping young people with valuable skills.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the inspection on Friday, Ekpo noted that the project is 92 per cent complete and expressed confidence that it would be finished within the stipulated timeframe.
He stated, “This is a training centre for low- and middle-level youth. When you want to build a self-reliant nation, you must equip your youth with skills. This institution aims to do just that, ensuring they become productive citizens with the means to support themselves.
“It will have a significant impact on the people of the Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole. From the executive secretary’s briefing, the project is 92 per cent completed, and I have instructed, on behalf of Mr President, that it must be finished this year.
“This is the Renewed Hope Agenda administration. We must restore Nigerians’ confidence in the government. The executive secretary has heard the President’s directive through me, and I am certain this project will be completed this year so that training can commence next year.”
On his part, the Executive Secretary of PTDF, Ahmed Aminu, assured that the fund is committed to meeting the deadline.
Aminu highlighted the centre’s objective of providing essential skills to youths, removing them from the streets, and helping them build sustainable livelihoods.
“Our goal is to complete this project by the end of this year so that it can become operational by the first quarter of next year.
“This facility is designed to train low- and middle-level manpower, including welders and technicians, in various vocations within the oil and gas industry.
“We aim to take young people off the streets and equip them with skills that will enable them to sustain themselves.
“We are partnering with both local and international organisations to establish this centre as a globally recognised training facility for Nigerian and West African youth,” Aminu said.
