The President Muhammadu Buhari Federal Government, on Wednesday, said that it is ready to resume Oil exploration in the Lake Chad Basin,
The exercise was suspended by the government in July 2017, after suspected members of Boko Haram attacked a team of Geological Engineers from the University of Maiduguri, who were engaged by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, to carry out a survey of the the Lake Chad region in Borno State, towards the commencement of the Oil exploration.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, addressing the Media after a close door meeting in Maiduguri, with the Military, and Chief Executive Officers in the Oil sector, said that the area is now peaceful enough to commence the Oil exploration.
Sylvia stated that the relative peace in Borno State and the Lake Chad area, informed the decision to move in for exploration and drilling activities in the region.
His words: “We are here to thank the Chief of Army Staff and the Nigerian Army, for the great job they continue to perform in the North-East.
“We believe that without their gallant activities here, we in Abuja, would not be living safely. Having thanked the Army, we also wanted to start exploration and drilling activities here, because we believe that there is relative peace in the area.
“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 Lake Chad Basin. We have seen a lot of prospects in the Chad Basin, and we want to commence exploration and drilling activities, and that is why we are collaborating with the Nigerian Army, to ensure that security is provided for activities to commence very soon.”
The Minister commended the sacrifice and gallantry of the Nigerian Army, in the fight against insurgency in the North-East.
He also sought the collaboration of the Chief of Army Staff, in providing enough security to secure the installations, and workers on the field.
Sylva was accompanied on the visit by Group Managing Director, GMD, of the NNPC, Mele Kyari; Group General Manager, GGM, Frontier Exploration Services, Abdullahi Bomai; among other Officers.
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