President Muhammadu Buhari has signaled the commencement of physical efforts aimed at the discovery of crude oil and gas in the Chad Basin, expressing confidence that the accomplishments seen in the Kolmani River 2 and Nasarawa State will be reproduced in the area.
President Buhari declared virtually on Tuesday in Abuja at the Wadi-B Drilling Campaign, which took place physically in Borno State, that “crude oil and gas exploration activities have been ongoing in the Chad Basin since 1976, and we also know of the discovery of subcommercial gas at the Wadi-1 Well in 1985.”
“I am also aware that active drilling activities were suspended in 1995 to enable re-evaluation of exploration activities in the entire frontier basins.
“I am happy that the NNPC has since then conducted extensive Basinal Analysis and Evaluation of all frontier basins leading to the successful drilling and discovery of crude oil and gas in commercial quantities in Kolmani River 2 and providing insight to the ongoing crude oil and gas drilling campaign in Nasarawa State as well the current re-entry activities into the Chad Basin.”
The President stated that if the activities are successful, the country will profit greatly from increased crude oil and gas reserves and production, improved national energy security, and increased wealth for Nigerians.
He thanked the NNPC Limited Board, Management, and Staff, as well as the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, on their unwavering efforts to develop the hydrocarbon potentials of the country’s Frontier Basins.
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President Buhari also commended the government and people of Borno State for their assistance in resuming drilling operations, asking security agencies and other stakeholders to guarantee the venture’s success.
Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, stated earlier in an address that the re-mobilization of a drilling rig to the Chad Basin for the first time since the 1980s demonstrates President Buhari’s visionary leadership.
“NNPC Limited is committed to carrying out detailed exploration of the Frontier Sedimentary Basins using the best industry standards and technologies, with the goal of achieving commercial crude oil and gas discoveries,” he said.
“This is a spud-in event that will reinforce the Government’s commitment for exploration in the Nation’s Frontier Basins, primarily aimed at increasing the Nation’s hydrocarbon reserves. This is a mission that we will take to delivery. We are very committed. It does not depend on Mele Kyari. It will work. This is a process, and this process has value, and this value will be created for everyone,” Kyari further said.
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State, later performed the physical flag-off ceremony on behalf of the President.
