The Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has announced plans to continue its oil exploration activities in the nation’s inland basins by drilling the nation’s first oil well in Nassarawa State in March 2023.
When the governor of the State, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, led a delegation of notable Nassarawa natives on a courtesy visit to the NNPC Ltd. in Abuja, Mallam Mele Kyari, the company’s group chief executive officer, disclosed that exploratory activities had confirmed the existence of significant hydrocarbon resources in the State.
Garbadeen Muhammad, the NNPCL’s chief corporate communications officer, revealed this in a statement on Friday.
Kyari called for prompt action on the project as the global energy transition has led to a reduction in investment in fossil fuels.
“This work must be done very fast because the whole world is walking away from fossil fuel due to energy transition, the earlier you go to market, the better for you, otherwise, ten years from now, no one will agree to put money in petroleum business except it comes from your cash flow,’’ he said.
Mallam Kyari added that community support and a conducive environment were key to a successful operation in the area in order to avoid the experience of the Niger Delta.
In his response, Governor Sule congratulated the GCEO on the successful commencement of oil production at the Kolmani Integrated development project which was launched in November 2022 by President Muhammadu Buhari, which he described as similar to what obtains in Saudi Arabia.
“I want to congratulate you, the management of NNPC and the federal government for what you have done at Kolmani, for those who don’t know what you have done for Nigeria, you have written your name in gold,’’ Governor Sule stated.
He commended President Buhari for his support while assuring the NNPC of a conducive environment.
The governor was accompanied on the visit by the deputy governor, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and first executive governor of the State, Dr. Abdullahi Adamu, his predecessor, Senator Tanko Almakura, Minister of Environment, Bar. Mohammed Hassan Abdullahi, Emir of Lafia, HRH Justice Sidi Bage Muhammad.
Others were the Osana of Keana, HRH Abdullahi Amegwa Agbo, Chairman, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, Mal. Isa Ibrahim Modibo, Chairman, National Population Commission, Hon. Nasiru Isa Kwara, Executive Vice Chairman, NASENI, Engr. Professor Mohammed Sani Haruna, Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, Former Minister of Justice, Musa Elayo Abdullahi, Permanent secretary, Ministry of Defence, Dr. Ibrahim Kana and the secretary to the state government, Muhammed Ubadoma Aliyu