The Federal Government on Wednesday said it was willing to resume oil exploration in the Lake Chad Basin.
Boko Haram forced the exercise to be suspended in July, 2017 when they attacked a team of engineers from the University of Maiduguri who were engaged by the NNPC to carry out extensive survey of the Lake Chad region in preparation for the commencement of oil exploration.
The Minister of State Petroleum Resources, Mr Timipre Sylva, made this known while addressing the media after a close door meeting in Maiduguri with the military and chief executive officers in the oil sector, said the area was now peaceful enough to commence the oil exploration.
The minister said that the relative peace in Borno state and the Lake Chad area informed the decision to move in for exploration and drilling activities in the region.
He added, “We are here to thank the Chief of Army Staff and the Nigerian Army for the great job they continue to perform in the North-East.
“We believe that without their gallant activities here, we in Abuja would not be living safely. Having thanked the Army, we also wanted to start exploration and drilling activities here because, we believe that there is relative peace in the area.
“As you may well know, we have found oil in Gombe and we believe that there is a lot of oil to be found in the Lake Chad Basin. We have seen a lot of prospects in the Chad Basin and we want to commence exploration and drilling activities and that is why we are collaborating with the Nigerian Army to ensure that security is provided for activities to commence very soon.
The minister is seeking for the support of the Chief of Army Staff in providing adequate security for the personnel and installations around the oil fields.
