Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) has been directed to extend oil and gas exploration to all the six basins in the country considering the fact that the energy sector is now the main economic driver of the country. The President who stressed that the oil and gas exploration remains a critical part of the development of the country said that the more oil and gas was discovered in the country the better for its economy and growth. The President then commended the NNPC and other stakeholders in the exploration sector for the actualization of the Kolmani River II Well prospects expressing hope that oil and gas will be discovered in commercial quantity in the area. He added that the NNPC will soon extend prospecting for oil and gas to Plateau, Nassarawa, Adamawa, Taraba and Benue State while waiting for security clearance from the Military in order to resume exploration of oil and gas in the Lake Chad basin suspended over the years due to insecurity in the area. It will be recalled that prospecting for oil and gas started in the Gongola Basin of the Upper Benue Trough about 20 years ago when research revealed that there is a deposit of oil and gas in the area.

Source: Nigerian Tribune February 02, 2019 15:13 UTC