The Nigerian National
Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has announced plans to commence oil exploration in
the Chad Basin, which was recently liberated from Boko Haram. It said its
decision is based on the assurance of the military that the area is now fully
liberated.
As reported by the local
Premium Times,
Saidu Mohammed,
the NNPC’s chief executive officer in charge of Gas and Power, revealed that
light and heavy duty exploration equipment were already being deployed to the
area.
He said oil exploration is
slated to start by year’s end.
During a visit with Borno
governor,
Kashim Shettima, in
Maiduguri, Mohammed said he sympathised with the government and people of the
state over the devastation caused by insurgents on the state.
“We are here in Borno to
express our full alignment to the ongoing reconstruction, rehabilitation and
resettlement process by government in all the liberated communities,” he said.
“Therefore, NNPC wants to appeal and seek where it can come in and assist,
because, the rate of devastation is worrisome.
“We are also in the state
to inform you that in the next six weeks, we are going to redeploy our team of
experts back to Maiduguri to resume oil exploration with better technology in
the Lake Chad Basin,” he added. “This is necessary with our renewed efforts in
harnessing, oil, gas and power to increase the economy of the nation, in line
with the agenda of President
Muhammadu
Buhari in job creation and economic diversification.”
https://www.neweurope.eu/article/nigeria-begin-oil-exploration-chad-basin/