By Kayode Falade
President Muhammadu Buhari has said the discovery and drilling of oil in Nasarawa State will lead to greater prosperity for Nigerians and enhance overall energy security for the country.
The President made the declaration on Tuesday in his virtual message to the official spud-in of the Ebenyi-A Well located in the Middle Benue Trough, in Obi Local Government of Nasarawa State.
In a statement by the Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President Femi Adesina, the President was reported to have directed the NNPC Limited and its partners to take due care of the oil exploration activities’ environmental consequences and mitigate the negative effects.
This as the President said the surrounding communities would particularly benefit from the value created by the exploration and eventual production activities.
President thanked the government and people of Nasarawa State- the host community- for their unfettered support and collaboration towards the success of this exploration campaign.
He recalled that the official commencement of drilling activities in the Middle Benue Trough aligns with ongoing campaigns to explore crude oil and gas in the Nation’s Frontier Basins.
He listed the Chad Basin, Dahomey Basin, Anambra Platform, the Calabar Embankment, Sokoto Basin, Bida Basin, Benue Trough, and the Ultra-Deepwater Niger Delta as areas where NNPC is extending its crude oil exploration.
The President added, “This is consistent with the commercial discoveries of hydrocarbons in the Kolmani Area of the Upper Benue Trough.
“I am pleased to note that activities are ongoing to develop the Kolmani petroleum discoveries to commercial production to add to the nation’s considerable hydrocarbon assets.
“I am encouraged by the enormous work done by NNPC Limited to exploit the prospects in the Middle Benue Trough, leading to today’s event.
“I congratulate NNPC Limited, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and other partners for their immense contributions towards making this day and this event possible,” he said, directing Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State and Group CEO, NNPC Limited, Mele Kyari, to spud on his behalf.