The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, is intensifying oil exploration in the lake Chad basin as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Group Managing Director of the corporation, Maikanti Baru, on Thursday paid a visit to the Governor of Bauchi State, Mohammed Abubakar, to brief the governor on how the project was unfolding.
“We are here to intimate you on the level of exploration activities in Bauchi,” Baru told the Governor.
“We are resuming oil exploration in the Chad and Gongola Basin. Our exploration in the Gongola Basin includes those rivers that criss-crossed some parts of Bauchi and Gombe States,” he said.
Baru said that a number of Local Government Areas in the state “will witness these exploration activities” including: “Alkaleri, Darazo, Misau and Ganjuwa.”
He said “Our commitment for further exploration in the Gongola Basin is informed by the Presidential directive to resume oil exploration in this area.
“Successful commercial discovery of oil and gas has been recorded in neighbouring Niger, Chad and Central African Republic in their portions of the Chad Basin.”
The NNPC boss said that “Based on recent work by IDSL, we are compelled to further appraise the Nigerian portion of the Chad and Benue Trough due to their similarities.”
The Integrated Data Services Limited, IDSL, is a subsidiary company of the NNPC, established in 1988 to provide hydrocarbon exploration services in the local and international Oil and Gas industry.
Governor Abubakar commended President Buhari for his renewed vigour to order an oil exploration in the Chad and Benue Trough.
He expressed optimism that the search would be successful, saying that “If our neighbours in the Chad Basin have discovered oil on their side, I’m optimistic we will find it on our own side too.”
“I want to assure you of the unflinching support of Bauchi State Government and its good people towards this project.
“We are ready to provide offices and accommodation for all NNPC staff that will work on this project,” the governor promised.
He also called on citizens of the state to cooperate with and support the NNPC towards the success of the project.
“Our people will soon witness movement of equipment towards exploratory activities around their farms. They should all remain calm.
There will also be occasional blasts within and around those areas due to exploration. I assure everyone to remain calm,” Abubakar advised.
He promised to convene a meeting of the traditional leaders in the state to brief them on the development so that they would better educate their subjects.
The NNPC GMD also paid a courtesy visit on the Emir of Bauchi, Rilwanu Adamu, to seek the royal father’s support towards the renewed oil exploration.
The Emir praised President Buhari for appointing “one of our sons to lead the NNPC group”, assuring that his people would support the exploration exercise.
“We are aware of Dr. Maikanti Baru’s excellent record and integrity in all the places he served in the NNPC.
“We will provide all the necessary support required to make this renewed exploration a success,” the Emir said.