Reps reject motion to declare Bauchi oil producing state

The house of representatives has rejected a motion seeking to declare Bauchi as an oil producing state. 

The lawmakers voted against the motion sponsored by Yakubu Abdullahi, a lawmaker from Bauchi.

In February 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated the spud-in of Kolmani River II well drilling in Bauchi state.

The president further directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to extend its exploration to six basins in the country.

While moving the motion on Thursday, Abdullahi said oil and gas are vital to the Nigerian economy and are key to the “implementation of budgets at all levels of government”.

Abdullahi said: “It has become imperative to ascertain the fortunes at the disposal of the federal government in Alkaleri local government area so as to hasten the process of giving effect to the provisions of the new Petroleum Industry Bill, 2021 just passed by the national assembly in terms of the economic benefit the host community stands to gain.

“Any community from whose location oil is discovered and or produced is entitled to several extra revenues which is special attention for the sake of its environment, infrastructure and health impact.”

Abdullahi said there is a need for “the people of Bauchi to start benefiting from the 13% derivation being the host community incentives provided for by the law”.

He said oil production started in Bauchi state in 2018 “but no official report on whether the exercise is a success or not and Nigerians, particularly the people of Bauchi state who are to benefit from the 13% derivation are anxiously waiting to witness the economic benefit”.

He asked the house to “mandate the committee on petroleum resources (upstream) to invite the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation to give comprehensive representation on the level of work in the oil exploration currently undertaken in Alkaleri local government area of Bauchi state and the successes recorded”.

The motion was overwhelmingly rejected when it was put to a voice vote by Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house.