Oil Exploration: Expedite action on Bida Basin, Niger Governor Bello, APC Chieftain tell FG

24th November 2022

From John Adams, Minna

With barely three days after President Mohammadu Buhari officiated the first oil exploration in northern Nigeria, the Niger state Governor Alhaji Abubaka Sani Bello has appealed to the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and its relevant Agencies to expedite action for the continuation of the exploration process of the Bida Basin in Niger state.

Governor Abubakar Sani Bello made the appeal in MINNA on Thursday when he declared open the 7th edition of the National Council meeting on hydrocarbons held at Justice Legbo Kutigi international conference center.

The governor said Niger state government has had an interaction in the past with the federal ministry of petroleum resources towards the accelerated development of the hydrocarbon deposits at the Bids basin.

Represented at the occasion by the Secretary to the Niger State Government, Alhaji Ibrahim Matane, the Governor disclosed that the three D seismic geophysics survey system by the frontier exploration service (FES) in collaboration with the intergrated Data service limited (IDSL) has been completed.

"It is possible for Mr President to perform the ground breaking ceremony of commercial oil drilling in Bida basin just like that of Gombe and Bauchi states before the expiration of of his administration for historical purpose that Buhari has finally actualised 50 years dream of exploring oil in the Northern frontier."

Speaking further, he pointed out that "The ministry of petroleum had also consider establishing a platform ( gas terminals) pumping stations) within Niger state for the Ajoukuta-Kaduna- Kano(Akk) gas pipeline project passing through Niger state territoritory.

"Niger state government under my leadership has engaged white pages international company limited as consultant in collaboration with Ibrahim Babangida University Lapai and Federal University of Technology, MINNA with impressive results", he added.

According to the Governor , the terminals/pumping stations will serve the federal capital territory, the people of Niger state ,the Garam industrial park and Baro port to boost the economic activities along the corridors of Kogi, Niger and Kaduna states.

The governor pointed out that Niger state is one of the pioneer states implementing the National LPG expansion implementation plan, adding that the government have already provided lands for the infrastructure investments.

Also reacting to the recent discovery of oil at Kolmani, a border village between Bausch and Gombe states, APC Chieftain in the state Jonathan Vasta urged President Mohammadu Buhari to ensure the actualization of the Bida Basin before the end of his administration, stressing that "Niger state can not wait to be part of the 13 oil Percent oil derivation being enjoying by oil producing states in the country.

"If that is the only thing the President can do for the state, the people will remain grateful for his Administration. Bida Basin is waiting to be tapped", he said.