Chineme Okafor in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to begin to search for crude oil and gas from the Benue Trough, NNPC’s Group Managing Director, Maikanti Baru, disclosed tuesday.

Baru said in Abuja that the president’s directive was part of efforts by his government to guarantee energy security for the country, through oil and gas mining from other parts of the country outside the Niger Delta.
The directive however came few weeks after Buhari asked NNPC to resume oil and gas exploration in the Chad Basin.



Baru said then that the Chad Basin was prolific and would not be left untapped.
He disclosed the president’s directive on the Benue Trough to a delegation of Benue State government that paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja. The outcome of the meeting was stated in a statement from the Group General Manager Public Affairs of the corporation, Mallam Garuba Deen Muhammad.

However, reports indicate that the Benue Trough is a major geological formation underlying a large part of Nigeria, and extending about 1,000 kilometer north-east from the Bight of Benin to Lake Chad.

The statement also said that both NNPC and Benue have reinvigorated their collaboration on an ethanol production project.

Baru noted in the statement that ethanol when blended with petrol ensures excellent performance of vehicles, and such energy sufficiency and proficiency were part of the cardinal objectives of the NNPC.

The statement also explained that the leader of the delegation, Chief Terwase Orbunde, had earlier commended the NNPC for resolving the recent fuel supply challenges and pledged the readiness of the state government to support the quick take off of the ethanol project, as it would generate jobs for Nigerians.

According to the statement, Orbunde assured the NNPC of full support and cooperation from the state government and the host communities.
He added that the government fully identified with the energy policy of the federal government.

It said the ethanol project was part of what NNPC initiated as its renewable energy programme in August 2005 in conformity with the Kyoto Protocol agreement to which Nigeria is a signatory.

It stated that the primary aim of the programme is to link the agricultural sector with the oil and gas industry, as well as gradually reduce the nation’s dependence on imported gasoline, reduce environmental pollution as a result of consumption of wholesale fossil fuel and create a commercially viable industry that can generate sustainable domestic jobs.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2016/08/17/buhari-directs-nnpc-to-search-for-oil-in-benue-trough/

FIRE on Sai Baba.

good development

Mr President and oil

Good but how will this synchronize with Fulani Herdsmen Grazing land desperation and greed?

Chaii.
This illiterate says he wants to diversify d economy.
He come de spend big money de find d same oil wey he wan diversify from.
Brothers and sisters,U see why having an education is good.

dokiOloye:
Chaii.
This illiterate says he wants to diversify d economy.
He come de spend big money de find d same oil wey he wan diversify from.
Brothers and sisters,U see why having an education is good.

Actually u are the one who needs the education. You have no clue what the race for oil is about. so be quiet

Buhari and oil na wa

I thought they are moving away from oil dependemce

blackpanda:



Actually u are the one who needs the education. You have no clue what the race for oil is about. so be quiet

Has he finished tapping d one in d niger delta?
Why can't he find a way to maintain peace in d ND and tap as much as he wants?
Last I heard,OPEC is cutting down on members' output qouta to shore up d price.
Do U think oil exploration comes cheap,and is that a priority in these days of recession and low oil price,meanwhile there is abundance of d said oil in d niger delta?
U my brother surely need an education alongside Buhari.

Oya leave Niger delta own na continue with that one no way...oil na him go put this president for trouble very soon...

Baba and oil self....

What does dis ish of a president wanna do with oil??

Mchew some pple wl be happy for this, do government care about us?? I don't think so

The presidency keeps talking on diversification but they're yet to forge ahead with the level of their oil dependence.

this man like oil shaaa

Buhari you be confirm mumu

PMB's thirst for oil is second to none. Even if oil is found in the north you still have to lay pipes through the south to export it. But it looks like its only groundnut that will be found on the north

You depend on the south but you treat them as second class.

What about the copper and other minerals the north has been boasted of. It seems its all lip service and oil is all the know. Oil is what unites us it seems

Good luck to them .The way our president is shamelessly searching for oil everywhere in the north is funny ...I wonder what they'll find now, d last time it was Nickel maybe Yams would be found in Benue or even Dollar bills

See how Attahiru Jega has destroyed Nigeria.
I dont expect anything meaningful from the present administration because here is a man who has no first degree, a man who has never upgrade himself academically since he left power in 1985.

Shame on all youth that are in support of this illiterate

Good move.

kaen1317:
PMB's thirst for oil is second to none. Even if oil is found in the north you still have to lay pipes through the south to export it. But it looks like its only groundnut that will be found on the north

No. You don't have to export it. We have four refineries my friend. Nigeria should not even be exporting crude oil alone.

Chad own no show anything

Izonpikin:


Oya leave Niger delta own na continue with that one no way...oil na him go put this president for trouble very soon...

Relax, if/when they find it, then that can happen.

Oil

Guy i don chuk mind for the biz IMMIDIATELY my eye saw ethanol.. U dey think about something now..

dokiOloye:
Chaii.
This illiterate says he wants to diversify d economy.
He come de spend big money de find d same oil wey he wan diversify from.
Brothers and sisters,U see why having an education is good.

Must you talk? Whoever is in aso rock excerpt GEJ knows better than you.

oil everytime isorit continue

It's quite sad that Nigeria is so backward. In a world where everyone is looking beyond oil and gas,where everyone is going green,where electric cars are becoming more popular. Oil is not the future people. Nigeria need to diversify its economy. I still believe in Nigeria, God bless Nigeria

buhari has to be the most stupid president ever