There was renewed optimism that Niger may join the league of oil producing states soon, says the State Commissioner for Mineral Resources, Hajiya Ramatu Yar’Adua.
Briefing journalists on the outcome of the weekly state executive meeting in Minna on Thursday, the commissioner said the seven wells drilled at the Bida Basin have confirmed the existence of oil in commercial quantity.
The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation in collaboration with the state-owned Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai have commenced oil exploration in both Bida and Sokoto basins.
Mrs Yar’Adua confirmed that there was significant progress showing the existence of crude in commercial quantity especially at the Bida basin from the shallow wells established in the villages of Gulu, Bakani, Makera, Kudu, Enagi, Kutigi and Kontagora.
She said that the executive council has approved the payment of N145million out of the N380million bill presented by a consultant oil firm that carried out the technical job that established the workable data bank on the presence of oil in the basin.
Source: Daily Trust
Be the first to know when we publish an update
