Buhari: Oil drilling in Nasarawa will enhance energy security, prosperity in Nigeria

President Muhammadu says the discovery and drilling of oil in Nasarawa state will enhance the overall energy security for the country.

The spud-in ceremony of the Ebenyi-A well located in the Middle Benue Trough, in Obi local government area of Nasarawa, was held on Tuesday.

Speaking virtually, Buhari said the spud-in ceremony will lead to greater prosperity for Nigerians, adding that the surrounding communities would particularly benefit from the value created by the exploration and eventual production activities.

The president directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and its partners to take due care of the environmental consequences of these oil exploration activities and to mitigate the negative effects.

He thanked the government and people of the state — the host community — for their unfettered support and collaboration towards the success of the exploration campaign.

Buhari said the official commencement of drilling activities in the Middle Benue Trough was in line with ongoing campaigns for the exploration of crude oil and gas in the nation’s frontier basins.

He listed the Chad Basin, Dahomey Basin, Anambra Platform, the Calabar Embankment, Sokoto Basin, Bida Basin, Benue Trough, and the Ultra-Deepwater Niger Delta, as areas where NNPC is extending its crude oil exploration.

‘‘This is consistent with the commercial discoveries of hydrocarbons in the Kolmani area of the Upper Benue Trough,” Femi Adesina, the presidential spokesperson, quoted Buhari as saying.

‘‘I am pleased to note that activities are currently ongoing to develop the Kolmani petroleum discoveries to commercial production to add to the nation’s considerable hydro-carbon assets.

“I am encouraged by the enormous work done by NNPC Limited to exploit the prospects in the Middle Benue Trough, leading to the event of today.

‘‘I congratulate NNPC Limited, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and other partners for their immense contributions towards making this day and this event possible.”

Buhari further directed Abdullahi Sule, governor of Nasarawa state, and Mele Kyari, group chief executive officer (GCEO) of the NNPC, to spud on his behalf.

Kyari had said exploration in the Benue Trough commenced in 2010.

He said the positive outcome of the exploration and production activities “will contribute to national aspiration of increasing our hydrocarbon reserves from 37 billion barrels to 50 billion barrels in the short-to-medium term”.