By Abdulkareem Haruna
On Tuesday, May 23, President Muhammadu Buhari authorized the resumption of oil search in Borno state, around the shores of Lake Chad.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Group Managing Director Mele Kyari announced the resumption of oil exploration at the Wadi B prospecting site in the Jere local government area at an elaborate event.
Wadi B is situated in Tuba village, approximately 45 kilometers away from the capital of Borno state, Maiduguri. However, the location falls within the areas still threatened by Boko Haram terrorists. To ensure the safety of officials visiting the exploration site, armed personnel escorted them while soldiers lined up the route.
The exploration of crude oil and gas on the Nigerian side of Lake Chad began in 1976 but was suspended in 1995 due to the discovery of insignificant hydrocarbon deposits.
With this resumption, the government aims to increase the country’s oil reserves and production capacity potentially.
The exploration was revisited in 2004 and carried on by successive governments until July 25, 2017, when it was suspended again after members of Boko Haram attacked a group of geologists working for the NNPC. Tuba village is located where Boko Haram terrorists have been attacking and kidnapping local farmers and wood fetchers for ransom.
According to Kyari, NNPC resumes exploration at Wadi B after thoroughly revisiting all the frontier basins using an updated approach. This approach helped them comprehend the rift system that led to successful crude oil exploration in Bauchi/Gombe states’ Kolmani area and Nasarawa state. The NNPC Group Managing Director expressed optimism that the same approach would result in the discovery of oil and gas in commercial quantities in the Lake Chad Basin.
Mele Kyari, the NNPC Group Managing Director, highlighted the use of new technologies in improving their knowledge of the geological structure of the Chad Basin.
He expressed confidence in the success of this exploration campaign, which would increase Nigeria’s crude oil reserves and create opportunities for the country. Kyari emphasized the significance of oil and gas in Nigeria’s prosperity and energy security, stating that they will continue to play a crucial role in the country’s energy future.
He also pointed out that the Sahara desert’s movement at half a kilometer per year puts pressure on the ecosystem, making oil and gas a significant resource for alternative energy solutions.
President Muhammadu Buhari expressed his optimism for a successful drilling campaign in the Basin, which he said will be achieved through the “collaborative efforts of NNPC Limited, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the government, security agencies, and other stakeholders, including the people and government of Borno state.” His recorded speech was played at the venue.
The President congratulated the board, management, and staff of NNPC Limited for their determination and efforts towards developing the hydrocarbon potentials of Nigeria’s frontier business, leading to today’s momentous event. He also thanked the government and people of Borno state for their support and efforts towards ensuring the successful resumption of drilling campaigns in the Chad basin.
The monarch of Borno state, Abubakar Garbai Elkanemi, expressed his happiness and optimism regarding the ongoing oil exploration efforts in the region, despite the prevalent insecurity in the Lake Chad Basin. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to explore oil, stating that it is now becoming a reality compared to the past.
Elkanemi highlighted the rich history of Borno state spanning over a thousand years, and emphasized that the discovery of oil would significantly improve the state’s statutory allocation and place it on par with other oil-rich states. Furthermore, he believes exploration could help bridge the gap in Western education and create job opportunities for your theorem, who currently face limited prospects.
Elkanemi also emphasized that the discovery of oil and gas in the state would enhance critical infrastructure, particularly roads, which have been a top priority need for the state.
Additionally, he acknowledged that the power supply, affected by regional insecurity, would be reduced when Borno became an oil-rich state.
The monarch acknowledged that insecurity is not a problem limited to Borno state alone. However, he remarked that communities in Borno are no longer under the complete control of Boko Haram, as was the case in the past. He emphasized the need to continue exploring for oil despite the security challenges and not allow them to impede progress.
Meanwhile, the state governor, Babagana Zulum, expressed a more optimistic outlook on discovering oil in the region. He confidently declared that he believes the state will become an oil-producing state before his tenure ends in 2027.
Bay States News 