By DANJUMA JOSEPH, Lafia –
President Muhammadu Buhari, has officially flagged off the spud-in of the Ebenyi-A Well located in the Middle Benue Trough, in Obi Local Government of Nasarawa State, Tuesday.
Governor Abdullahi Sule, of Nasarawa State, while speaking at the occasion, appealed to both the President and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), to expedite action to develop the field, especially with rising competition from green energy.
This is even as the Governor further appealed to the NNPCL to equally adopt the Integrated Field Development it is employing in Kolmani, Gombe State, to develop the Ebenyi-A oil field.
“Let me make this special appeal to you Mr President and of course, the NNPCL. With the strong competition that the fossil oil is getting from green energy, we will to appeal Mr. President, that the NNPCL should expedite action on the development of this field.
“While congratulating the NNPCL once more on the concept of the Integrated Field Development that was just carried out in Gombe, we also pray and hope that the Ebenyi-A field will also experience another IFD,” Engineer Sule stated.
The Governor expressed appreciation to the President, GMD/CEO NNPCL, Malam Mele Kyari and all those who made the spud-in possible.
He equally solicited for the continued support and cooperation of the host community towards ensuring the success of the project.
“I call on our host communities to see this project as your own. I ask you to take ownership to ensure you not only protect the project but the people working on the project. As somebody who has worked in similar conditions, the relationship with the host community is extremely important. The cooperation that we will get from you, will make the people more comfortable to believe that this is also their home,” he stated.
President Muhammadu Buhari, on his part said the discovery and drilling of oil in Nasarawa State, will lead to greater prosperity for Nigerians as well as enhance overall energy security for the country.
The President, directed NNPCL and its partners to take due care of the environmental consequences of these oil exploration activities and to mitigate the negative effects.
Buhari, recalled that the official commencement of drilling activities in the Middle Benue Trough is 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-Deepwater Niger Delta as areas where NNPC is extending its crude oil exploration.
‘‘This is consistent with the commercial discoveries of hydrocarbons in the 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 this day and this event possible,’’ he said, directing Governor Abdullahi Sule and Group CEO, NNPC Limited, Mele Kyari to spud on his behalf.
Earlier, Group Managing Director/CEO of the NNPCL, Malam Mele Kyari pointed out that findings are very indicative of potential commercial hydrocarbon discovery in the area.
The GMD/CEO expressed optimism that the positive outcome of the campaign will contribute to increasing the country’s national hydrocarbon reserve from 37bn barrels to 50bn barrels in the short, while also increasing its oil production capacity to the target of 3m barrels per day.
He equally assured stakeholders that NNPCL will conduct its activities in Obi Local Government Area with utmost care and attention to health, safety and environment.
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