The Federal Government has been tasked by members of the House of Representatives to expedite seismic data acquisition and geophysical survey.
According to the House, this will aid in determining whether hydrocarbon is present in the Bida Basin in Niger State in economic amounts.
The demand followed a resolution adopted by MPs during discussion of a motion introduced by Hon. Saidu Musa Abdullahi asked for the House to step in to ensure the project’s prompt completion.
In his opening speech, Hon. Abdullahi praised the current administration’s efforts while expressing his belief that the nation has the potential to become the continent of Africa’s top oil reserve nation.
The House remarked that the finding of oil in the nation’s northern region is positive news for the energy industry, the Hon. Abdullahi added.
The House takes note that the Mid-Niger Basin, also known as the Bida Basin, is made up of eight local governments in Niger State, including Mokwa, Gbako, Bida, Lavun, Katcha, Agaie, Lapai, and Edati. It also extends into two local governments in Kwara State and one in Kogi State.
“The House is aware that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Group Managing Director (GMD) announced that the NNPC had started oil exploration activities in the Area and that the exploration could add 40 billion barrels to Nigeria’s oil reserves by 2023 during a visit to the Executive Governor of Niger State, His Excellency, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello.
The Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) have been tasked by the House to complete the geophysical survey that the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), which is no longer in existence, began in order to determine the availability of hydrocarbon in commercial quantities in the Bida Basin.
The joint Committees on Legislative Compliance and Petroleum Resources (Upstream) were instructed by the Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, who presided over the plenary, to ensure that the resolution is followed.
