Gov. Gaidam Wants NNPC to Begin Oil Search in Yobe Sector of Lake Chad Basin

Gov. Gaidam Visits NNPC GMD
…Wants Corporation to Begin Oil Search in Yobe Sector of Lake Chad Basin
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H.E Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam has called on the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to begin oil search in the Yobe sector of the Lake Chad Basin, saying that structural and geologic similarities between Yobe and Niger and Chad Republics, where oil has been found, may point to the presence of oil in the state.

The governor spoke today during a visit to the Group Managing Director of the NNPC Dr. Maikanti Kachallah Baru at the Corporation’s world headquarters in Abuja.

“The GMD may wish to note that our request for the exploration of oil in the Yobe sector of the Chad Basin is informed by the discovery of Crude Oil in neighbouring Chad and Niger Republics.  The parts of these neighbouring countries where oil discoveries were made have been ascertained to have common structural features with the Chad Basin part of the North East, especially Borno and Yobe States. 

“It is in view of this that I appeal to the Federal Government through the Group Managing Director, NNPC to commence the exploration of oil and gas in the Chad Basin section of Yobe State as early as possible.  I wish to reiterate that the structural features of our State are consistent with the areas I mentioned earlier. I am aware that security concerns constitute a major hindrance to exploration activity in the region.  However, it may interest you all to note that Yobe State is currently very peaceful for any exploration activities to start without any security breach. To pave the way, our administration has undertaken various infrastructural projects, such as the building of roads covering the major settlements in the Chad Basin section of our State”, the governor said.

The Governor said his call  for oil search in Yobe State is informed by the commitment of the Buhari-led federal government to increase the nation’s oil reserves through the exploration of oil and gas in the Lake Chad Basin. “This policy direction of the Federal Government is of interest to us because the basin covers a large area including Yobe State”, he said.

H.E Gov. Gaidam, who commiserated with the NNPC over recent attack on oil workers in Borno State, commended the GMD for wide ranging reforms in the nation’s oil and gas sector since he assumed office.

“The reforms you introduced since your assumption of office have created unprecedented developments in the oil and gas industry. They have checked the problem of incessant scarcity of petroleum products, increased the revenue accruable from the oil and gas sector and have led to substantial increases in the contributions of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Plants to the national economy”, the governor said.

The Governor assured the NNPC GMD that the Yobe State Government will “support, cooperate and collaborate with the NNPC” for the success of oil exploration in the state.

The NNPC GMD Dr. Baru, in his remarks, said that initial investigations by the NNPC have indicated ‘some area of interest in the eastern part of Yobe State’.

“Consequently, we did buy the primary requisition data relating to the gravity and aeromagnetic surveys that pertain to that section of Yobe State... We have seen out of the data some interesting attractions on the eastern part of Yobe State, and our intention is that when normalcy returns, we will subject the data to our approval processes of reconnaissance, of surface data, (and then) integrating it with the aeromagnetic surveys and the indications of basinal fitness to design programmes that we could use in shooting regional lines across those areas of interest and subsequently narrowing down to some of the places that we may see from the regional lines to have a more intense look we are having through the seismic data acquired and the interpreting and processing of that data, we will then be able to plan, based on the possible indications, a detailed 3-Dimensional seismic surveys which could assist us in delineating possible leads and ultimately (hydrocarbon) prospects before we mobilize for drilling”, Dr. Baru said.

The NNPC GMD assured that the programmes will start as soon as normalcy returns and the NNPC gets the all-clear from security agencies to resume oil search in the Lake Chad Basin.

“We will put in best industry practices with the most modern technology that will be deployed in the exploration of your section of the Chad Basin in line with the programmes we have executed on the Borno side of the Chad Basin” he assured.

H.E Gov. Gaidam was accompanied on the visit to the NNPC today by the National Secretary of the APC, Hon. Mai Mala Buni, State Assembly Speaker Adamu Dala Dogo, SSG Baba Mallam Wali, Head of Service Alhaji Saleh Abubakar, House of Assembly member Ya’u Dachia, Budget Commissioner Idi Barde Gubana, Housing Commissioner Alhaji Bukar Dauda and the Chief of Staff to the Governor Alhaji Muhammad Nur Alkali, amongst others.