Oil drilling in Nasarawa will enhance energy security, says Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, said that the discovery and drilling of oil in Nasarawa State would lead to greater prosperity for Nigerians as well as enhance overall energy security for the country.

Buhari, in his virtual message to the official spud-in of the Ebenyi-A Well located in the Benue Trough, in Obi Local Council of Nasarawa State, said the surrounding communities would particularly benefit from the value created by the exploration and eventual production activities.

He, however, urged the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) and its partners to take due care of the environmental consequences of oil exploration activities and also mitigate the negative effects.

The President, who thanked the government and people of Nasarawa State – the host community- for their support and collaboration towards the success of the exploration campaign, recalled that the official commencement of drilling activities in the Middle Benue Trough was in line with ongoing campaigns for the exploration of 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, as well as the Ultra-Deep Water Niger Delta, as areas where NNPC is extending its crude oil exploration.

‘’This is consistent with the commercial discovery of hydrocarbons in Kolmani Area of the Upper Benue Trough.
‘’I am pleased to note that activities are currently ongoing to develop the Kolmani petroleum discoveries to commercial production to add to the nation’s considerable hydro-carbon assets.

‘’I am encouraged by the enormous work done by NNPC Limited to exploit the prospects in the Middle Benue Trough, leading to the event of today.

‘’I congratulate NNPC Limited, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and other partners for their immense contributions towards making the day and the event possible,’’ he said, urging Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule and Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) the NNPC Limited, Mele Kyari, to spud on his behalf.