The Federal Government on Wednesday said Oil Exploration exercise in Chad Basin which was suspended in July 2017 after suspected members of Boko Haram attacked a team of geological engineers from the University of Maiduguri will commence soon.
Geological engineers from the University of Maiduguri were engaged by Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation to carry out a survey of the Lake Chad region in Borno State towards the commencement of oil exploration.
Addressing the media after a close door meeting in Maiduguri with the military and chief executive officers in the oil sector, the Minister of State Petroleum Resources, Mr. Timipre Sylva said the area was now peaceful enough to commence the oil exploration.
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He said: “We are here to thank the Chief of Army Staff and the Nigerian Army for the great job they continue to perform in the North-East.
“As you may well know, we have found oil in Gombe and we believe that there is a lot of oil to be found in the Lake Chad Basin. We have seen a lot of prospects in the Chad Basin and we want to commence exploration and drilling activities and that is why we are collaborating with the Nigerian Army to ensure that security is provided for activities to commence very soon.”
The minister who was accompanied on the visit by Group Managing Director of NNPC, Alhaji Mele Kyari among other officers commended the sacrifice and gallantry of the Nigerian Army in the fight against insurgency in the North-East. He also sought the collaboration of the Chief of Army Staff in providing enough security to secure the installations and workers on the field.
