Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, has appealed to President Buhari to expedite action for the continuation of oil exploration process in the Bida Basin.
According to him, it would be an actualisation of a 50 years dream of exploring oil in the northern frontier if President Buhari can performed the ground-breaking ceremony of commercial oil drilling in Niger state.
Bello stated this during the 7th National Council on Hydrocarbons Meeting in Minna.
He said: “Our appeal to the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and its relevant agencies to expedite action for the continuation of the next stage of the exploration process in the Bida Basin. Just as President Muhammadu Buhari did in Bauchi and Gombe states, it is possible for Mr. President to do the same in the Bida Basin before the expiration of this administration so that history will have it that President Buhari has finally actualised a nearly 50 years dream of exploring oil in the Northern Frontier,” he said.
Bello also called on the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to establish gas pumping stations within Niger State for the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline project presently passing through Niger state adding that the gas pumping stations will serve the people of Federal Capital Territory, Niger State, the Garam Industrial Park and the Baro Port and boost economic activities along the corridors of Kogi-Niger and Kaduna states.”
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva said that the country would require $10 billion annually to achieve transition plan by 2060.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Gabriel Tanimu Aduda, Sylva said the meeting would address issues affecting the energy sector while energy related issues would be reviewed and opportunities would be identified.
According to him, 34 memorandums were received for the meeting out of which seven were merged while 11 were stepped down
