NNPC TO RESUME OIL EXPLORATION IN LAKE CHAD BASIN —Sylva
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Silva, has disclosed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC would soon resume oil exploration and drilling in the Lake Chad Basin.
Silva disclosed this to journalists on Thursday at the end of a meeting on Chad Basin with the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai and other senior commanders of the force in Maiduguri, Borno State.
The meeting was attended by the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mele Kyari, and other top management staff of NNPC and the ministry.
Also in attendance were the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya, his Multinational Joint Task Force, MNJTF counterpart, Maj.-Gen. Yusuf Ibrahim and other top military officers.
Oil exploration in the Chad Basin was suspended on July 25, 2017, after a team of NNPC Frontier Exploration Services and their consultants from the University of Maiduguri were abducted by suspected Boko Haram fighters.
The minister said the decision to recommence exploration activities in the region was borne out of the successes so far recorded by the military in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgents.
He commended Buratai and the Nigerian Army for their resilience and gallantry in the quest to liberate the North-East from insurgents as well as making the entire country safe and secure.
Sylva said: “The reason why we are here is to first and foremost thank the Chief of Army Staff and the Nigerian Army for the great job they have continued to perform in the North East.
He said,“We believe that without their gallant activities here we in Abuja will not also be leaving safely, neither will we be leaving safely anywhere in the world.
“Having thanked them, we also want to commence exploration and drilling activities here because we believe that there is relative peace in this area enough for us to continue drilling activities in the North East.
“As you may well know, we have found oil in Gombe and we believe that there is a lot of oil to be found in the Chad Basin. We have seen a lot of prospects in Chad Basin and we want to commence exploration and drilling activities.
“That is why we are collaborating with Nigeria Army to ensure that security is provided for activities to commence very soon.”
Speaking further, Dr Matawalle said the Zamafara State Government, while continuing to apply both kinetic and non-kinetic means in dealing with security challenges in the State, would continue to exhibit zero tolerance for any subversive elements who provide information or safe havens to bandits or support their operations in any way.
He noted that it was auspicious that the CAS’ visit coincided with his meeting with Royal Fathers and Spiritual Leaders in the State, which had been convened to further galvanize their support for the Government towards dealing with the issue of armed banditry in Zamfara State. While assuring the CAS of the State Government’s continued support, the Governor gave immediate directives for the provision of additional land to the NAF.
(Ideal Post)
