NNPC to resume oil exploration in Lake Chad Basin soon... Petroleum Minister
Sequel to the return of relative peace gradually to Borno State and several appeals by North East States Governor Forum during it's second meeting in Maiduguri recent and the Shehu of Borno, HRH, Alhaji Abubakar Garbai Ibn Umar El Kanemi, Borno Elders and Stakeholders at several fora for the federal government to resume oil exploration at the Lake Chad Basin region which has in the past been truncated by the challenges of Boko Haram Insurgency.
The Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Syllva led NNPC delegation comprising of the NNPC Group Managing Director, (GMD), Malam Kyari Meleh, Group General Manager, Frontier Exploration Services, (FES), Alhaji Mohammed Ali and General Manager Security, Alagji Bomai among other Staff officers from the offices of the Minister and GMD to Maiduguri City Thursday for Chad Basin Operations Meeting at the Theater Command Headquarters of Operation Lafiyà Dole, Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri .
The meeting was held behind closed doors for about an hour with the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, Theater Commander, Operation Lafiyà Dole, Maj. Gen. Farouk Yahaya, At GOC, 7 Division NA, Bri. Gen. Abdul Khalifa Ibrahim, Chief of Training and Operations, Maj. Gen. Nuhu Angbazo, Chief of Military Intelligence, Maj. Gen. Adebayo and other top Military officers.
Briefing Journalists immediately after the closed door meeting, the Honorable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva who was accompanied by the Group Managing Director Mr Mele Kyari, Group General Manager Frontier Exploration Services Mr Mohammed Ali and General Manager Security among other Staff officers from the offices of the the Minister and GMD with the Chief of Army Staff at the Headquarters Theatre Command Operation LAFIYA DOLE, Maimalari Barracks Maiduguri on Thursday said that they were in Maiduguri to appreciate the military and hold security meeting with the top military officials on the possibility of resuming oil exploration in the north east especially, at the Lake Chad Basin where oil has already been discovered.
"We are here in Maiduguri to thank the military and appreciate them for what they are doing in providing security and restoring peace in the north east.
"Now that there is peace. Security has been provided by the military. We thank them for their doggedness and provision of security . Because with the military efforts now, we now have security. Everywhere is safe now and we can resume or commence oil exploration in the Lake Chad.
"We have oil in Gombe and there is iabundant oil also in the Lake Chad Basin. So, we are discussing on how the military can provide adequate security for us to commence oil exploration in the Lake Chad Basin in the North East Region
"And we shall soon resume the exploration in the Lake Chad Basin which we have started over the years", Sylva said.
The delegation has since returned to Abuja after the meeting.