The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has begun crude oil exploration activities in the Benue Trough particularly Nasarawa State.
Mr. Maikanti Baru, NNPC Group Managing Director, who stated this during a visit to Nasarawa State Governor, Mr. Umaru Tanko Almakura, in Lafia, said the corporation was complying with the Presidential mandate to resume oil exploration activities in some of the nation’s inland basins, including the Chad Basin and the Benue Trough.
Baru said the mandate was driven by the urgent need for the nation to increase its oil and gas reserves, thereby improving revenue streams and creating more business and employment opportunities for Nigerians.
He noted that the move was also in line with NNPC’s corporate vision of 12 Business Focus Areas (12 BUFA), and informed Governor Almakura that the NNPC team was in Nasarawa to sensitise the government and people of the state on the mission.
“I am, therefore, happy to be personally here to kick-start the beginning of a high-profile stakeholder engagement towards oil exploration in Nasarawa State’s part of the Benue Trough,” he stated.
He assured that as a responsible corporate organization, NNPC, through its Frontier Exploration Services, FES, would do everything possible to operate peacefully among the people and with much respect to the environment.
Already, the GMD noted, the Corporation’s Frontier Exploration Services had mobilized the Integrated Data Services Limited, IDSL, an upstream arm of the NNPC, to acquire seismic data in the Benue Trough, commencing from the Keana area.
“I am convinced that the success of the results from IDSL’s seismic data acquisition will lead to the drilling of exploration wells in the area, which hopefully would launch Nasarawa State into the league of oil producing states in the country,” Baru stated.
He assured that Nasarawa State indigenes would enjoy more products availability once the NNPC rehabilitates the Makurdi Depot pipeline which feeds Nasarawa and Benue states with products.
“We have resuscitated Mosimi, Ibadan, Kano and Aba depots. Once we are done with Aba-Enugu line, we are heading towards Makurdi Depot,” Dr. Baru added.
Earlier, the governor, who was happy over the oil search in his state, assured the NNPC of Nasarawa people’s support towards the oil search in the frontier, lauding the GMD for ensuring stability in products supply and distribution across the country.
