President Muhammadu Buhari has instructed the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), to embark on a search towards oil exploration in the north, precisely, the Benue canal. Benue canal is a major geological formation underlying a large part of Nigeria, extending about 1,000km North-East from the Bight of Benin to Lake Chad. It should be noted, however, that this is the second time in three weeks, President Buhari has given the NNPC an express order concerning this action. Hence, the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mr. Maikaniti Baru, disclosed this while receiving a delegation from the Benue State Government, who paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja. Consequently, the 19 northern state governors are anxious about the prospects of oil production in their domain as they have hired a British firm through the Northern Nigeria Development Company, which they jointly own, to carry out the exploration activities.

Source: The North Africa Journal August 17, 2016 13:11 UTC