The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timiprye Sylva has disclosed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is to begin oil exploration in the Lake Chad Basin of Borno State. The commencement of exploration is being facilitated by the restoration of relative peace in the basin by the Nigerian Army.
This was revealed after the Minister had a meeting with the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai and the Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), Maj-Gen. Ibrahim Yusuf, at the Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri, to ensure security is provided for the oil exploration and drilling activities to kick off soon in the basin.
"The NNPC has seen a lot of prospects in Chad Basin to commence exploration and drilling activities. That is why the corporation is collaborating with the army to resume oil explorations.
"We wanted to commence exploration and drilling activities there because we believe that there is relative peace in this area enough for us to continue drilling activities in the northeast.
"As you may well know, we have found oil in Gombe State and we believe that there is a lot of oil to be found in the Chad Basin," stated Sylva
