The House of Representatives on Wednesday asked the federal government to fast track geophysical survey and seismic data acquisition to ascertain the availability of hydro-carbon in commercial quantities in the Bida Basin of Niger State.
The House while adopting a motion sponsored by Rep Saidu Musa Abdullahi (Niger, APC), particularly urged the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to conclude the geophysical survey began by the defunct Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to ascertain availability of hydrocarbon in the area.
He said the Bida Basin also known as the Mid-Niger Basin comprises eight Local Government Areas including Mokwa, Lavun, Gbako, Bida, Katcha, Agaie, Edati and Lapai in the Southern part of Niger State, which extends to two local government areas in Kwara State and one in Kogi State.
He recalled that the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of NNPC, Mele Kyari had during a visit to the governor of Niger State, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello to unveil the 2D seismic data acquisition in the Bida Basin in 2020, announced that the NNPC had commenced oil exploration activities in the area and that the exploration could add 40 billion barrels to Nigeria’s oil reserves by 2023.
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Rep Abdullahi said President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier directed the NNPC management to fast-track oil exploration across the country following Shell’s discovery of hydrocarbons in the Chad Basin and Kolmani River.
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