The northern socio-cultural
organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), yesterday expressed concern over
the federal government’s attitude to oil exploration in the geo-political North
and urged it to expedite action on the exploration process.
There have been reports of oil find in Sokoto and Kogi states in
commercial quantities. The Sokoto state government, according to reports, are
imploring the authorities of Niger Republic to assist it in the exploration of
the oil deposits.
Rising from the meetings of the National Executive Council
(NEC) and Board of Trustees (BoT) chaired by Alhaji Aliko Mohammed and Lt
Gen J.T Useni respectively, both meetings expressed concern over the current
state of affairs in the New Nigerian Development Company (NNDC), and urged
northern state governments to look into it.
In a communique signed by its spokesman, Anthony Sani, the ACF
“regretted that oil exploration proceeds at snail speed in northern Nigeria.
“In view of recent discoveries of crude oil in areas of similar
geological character with northern Nigeria, the meeting reiterates its call on
the federal government to expedite action on oil exploration,” the communique
read.
While expressing dismay at the festering security challenges
posed by the untoward activities of Boko Haram and ethno-religious crises in
some states of the north, the insecurity caused by the spate of kidnappings and
communal clashes across the south-east, those posed by widespread armed
robberies in the south-west as well as militant activism and oil bunkering in
the south-south, the ACF also considered the efforts of the federal and
state governments that are directed at addressing the security challenges.
ACF acknowledged the endorsement of dialogue by the federal
government in resolving the crises, even as they also appreciated the efforts
of northern state governors in setting up a panel to help find lasting solution
to the prevailing security challenges it enjoined the people to support the
action.
The forum reiterated its call on members of the Boko Haram to
embrace the offer of dialogue by laying down their arms, saying, “Enough is
enough”.
The forum considered expressions of ethnic nationalism as
manifested by a recent declaration of autonomy and hoisting of flags and
anthems by some groups as unhelpful.
This, they said, was because actions which promote cleavages
along ethnic and religious lines were unlikely to inspire national solidarity
that must go with our relative pluralism.
“It is against such backdrop that the meetings praised the
actions of some religious leaders who took it upon themselves to promote
tolerance and accommodation between faiths through interdenominational breaking
of fast as hosted by Archbishop John Onaiyekan of Abuja Archdiocese, Kaigama in
Jos and many others who stood guard at places of worship while members of a
different religion prayed. The meetings, therefore, called on all religious,
political as well as community leaders to follow suit for the collective good,”
the communiqué said.
Deliberating on the constitution and the need to amend some Acts
of the National Assembly and the revenue sharing formula, the forum noted the
concern expressed by the presidency that further discussions on certain issues
should stop.
Meanwhile, an integrated team of consultants set up by the
federal government to study the possibility of exploring oil has identified
3350sqm oil on the Lake Chad Basin which was recommended for further
investigation.
Group managing director of NNPC Mr. Andy Yakubu, who gave the
hint while briefing Vice President Namadi Sambo at a meeting convened with
experts within the NNPC and other public sectors at the presidential villa,
Abuja, yesterday, said despite insinuations making the rounds that the
corporation was not doing much on the exploration of the hydro carbon on the
Lake Chad, NNPC was doing a lot to realize the noble objective of the federal
government.
He added that on the submission of the report of the
investigation, NNPC commissioned its subsidiary and consultants to start the
exploration.
These consultants include the Chinese companies that worked in
similar ventures on Niger and Chad republics.
Yakubu noted that, due to the high technology employed for the
exploration the area was divided into four phases and that work is currently
ongoing on the fifth phase.
He further added that three major sub-basins in the Lake Chad
area, namely Biu, Maiduguri and Barga had been identified and marked as
low-risk while work is currently going on in that area.
He pointed out that lack of security and adequate funding are
the major challenges being faced in the speedy execution of the project.
In his remarks, Vice President Sambo expressed the federal
government’s appreciation for the positive effort NNPC was making in the
exploration of hydrocarbon at the Chad Basin.
Sambo expressed delight that surveys have indicated the presence
of oil in the Chad Basin.
He noted that the budget provision is based on activity
assessment and that the efforts so far expended and the achievements recorded
so far will lead to the realization of the targeted goal.
He directed that a meeting with NNPC should be convened as a
step to engaging willing and ready investors that will facilitate speedy and
timely exploration in the second phase of the exercise.
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