...NNPC boss confirms plan for an Institute of Petroleum Studies in Bauchi
Chibisi Ohakah, Abuja
The federal government has expressed frustrations on how the insecurity in the north east part of the country stalled the orchestrated search for crude oil in the Chad Basin.
At the height of the security challenges encountered by consultants and officials of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) while combing the region for crude oil, the apex oil company Frontier Exploration Services team and their consultants from the University of Maidugiri were attacked by gunmen and some of them were abducted on July 25, 2017.
The incident prompted the suspension of the oil search in the Chad Basin. Yesterday, however, the NNPC said it looks forward to resuming the search as soon as it receives security clearance. Group managing director of the Corporation, Dr Maikanti Baru, disclosed this when the Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, paid him a business visit in Abuja.
“We will go back there as soon as we receive security clearance. There seem to be some prospects there because Niger Republic drilled over 600 wells and now they are producing while we have only drilled 23”, the GMD said. He commended the people of Bauchi and Gombe States, especially communities in the exploration area for their support and hospitality, while assuring them of NNPC’s support in the provision of infrastructure and amenities.
On the proposed Institute of Petroleum Studies to be established in Bauchi State University, Dr Baru pledged the support of NNPC and assured the governor of synergy between the institution and the Petroleum Training Institute, Warri, for exchange programs and manpower development. Speaking earlier, the Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed said his visit was to seek collaboration with the corporation on how to move the state forward.
“We are happy that we have some hydrocarbon not only in Bauchi but also in Gombe both in the Gongola Basin, and we are totally committed to the exploration activities of the NNPC in the area”, the governor said.
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