Construction of Bauchi Oil and Gas Academy Alkaleri (BOGA) Permanent Site Gulps 6. 9 Billion

From Paul Orude Bauchi

Bauchi State Government has commenced the construction of the permanent site of the Bauchi Oil and Gas Academy Alkalri (BOGA) at the cost of N6.9 billion.

This was disclosed by Governor Bala Mohammed at the official ground breaking ceremony on Saturday, performed by the Minister for State, Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri.

Mohammed explained that the N6.9 billion being used to build the academy, was part of the N17 billion released to the state by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to advance oil, gas in the state.

“Definitely the contribution of the federal government in this project is enormous and I must acknowledge the intervention of President Tinubu who gave us the money and we are using what he has given us judiciously,” he said.

“Apart from the academy, we are building capacity in agriculture, upgrading our own fertilizer plant, and revisiting Yankari for our fauna and flora and of course conservation and other impetus for tourism and bringing irrigation to the core.

“We have housed this money in a special account where we have given out 30 percent of the money to the contractor for him to commence the work,” he revealed.

“We are going to build the following for a start: the parameter fence wall, entrance gate house, administrative complex, classroom blocks, lecture theatres, auditorium, ICT hall and laboratories, male and female hostels, library, workshop complex, clinic, cafeteria and staff quarters for junior and senior staff”

The governor appealed to contracting firms and supervising engineers to ensure strict adherence to job specifications.

“Any substandard work will not be accepted by government,” he warned.

“I urge the contractors to complete the project timely as stipulated in the contract agreement”

Mohammed thanked the minister for coming, expressing the willingness of his administration to partner with the federal government to advance the oil, gas sector in the state.

 “The academy is therefore meant to provide the skilled manpower required to fast-track oil and gas exploration in the Kolmani oil field and other areas in the country,” he said.

“It is also an indication of our unwavering commitment to impact vocational and technical skill to our teeming youth to make them more productive in line with the economic empowerment and skill development programme of our administration”

“Let me say that since the establishment of the academic, which currently operates as a temporary site located within the premises of the ATAP Bauchi, the state government has taken various measures to realize its core mandate.

“In the area of infrastructure the academy has been provided with befitting office and accommodation equipped with basic furniture and equipment as well as power supply.

“Also as part of efforts to develop its ICT, the institution has been provided with an online management information system and ICT centre equipped with 100 set of computers to facilitate effective learning services.

“This is in addition to provision of generators to support the day to day operation of the academy.

“Government has given approval for the institution to recruit 43 non-teaching staff to support the operation needs of the academy.

“Following the inspection of the  resource inspection by the NBTE the academy has commended national skills qualification programmes and so far about 530 students  have graduated in different field of studies, which include automated mechanics, building construction, computer hard ware maintenance , carpentry, electrical maintenance and repairs, plumbing and pipe fittings, radio and GSM repair as well as welding and fabrication”

The governor said that the academy has also commenced national innovative Diploma programme in Computer Hardware Engineering and Software Technology Telecommunications, Solar Technology, Welding and Fabrication Technology among others.

“In all over 700 students were admitted and have undergo several programmes in the academy,” he disclosed.

“Additionally, Oil and Gas certificate courses, Hydro Carbon Exploration Techniques, Toxity and Environment, as well as Oil and Gas Business Management are being carried out”

The minister commended Mohammed for being a visionary leader, adding that President’s Tinubu’s focus on energy security aligns with the vision of the Governor to develop oil and gass project in the Kolmani region.

Lokpobiri explained that exploration requires the needed the manpower saying the coming of the academy will provide the needed manpower to service the Kolmani project.

He pledged the commitment of the Federal government to support the governor’s vision to ensure that objective of this project is achieved.

Earlier in his welcome address, Bauchi State Commissioner for Natural Resources Development, Mohammed Maiwada Bello, described the groundbreaking ceremony as a dream come true.

Maiwada commended Governor Mohammed for his resilience in actualising the Academy and support to the Ministry to seeing the day.

Executive Chairperson of Alkaleri Local government area, Hassan Garba Bajama, expressed excitement that  that Academy had become a reality and a source of economic growth and development of the area specifically.

The Rector of the Bauchi Oil and Gas Academy Alkaleri, Dr Ahmad Sulaiman Yaro,  in a goodwill message at the ceremony thanked the Governor and the minister for the ground breaking ceremony and assured that the standard of the institution would be sustained.