Niger State Governor, Alh. Abubakar Sani Bello, has called on President Muhammad Buhari to perform the ground-breaking ceremony of commercial oil drilling in the Bida Basin, Niger State before the expiration of his administration in 2023.
The Secretary to Niger State Government, SSG, Alh. Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, who made the call in Minna, said doing so will finally actualize nearly 50 years’ dream of exploring oil in the Northern frontier.
According to him, “With the ceremony of commercial oil drilling in Bauchi and Gombe States last Tuesday, it is possible for Mr. President to do the same in the Bida Basin before the expiration of this administration.”
He called on the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to consider establishing a platform (gas terminals/pumping stations) within Niger State for the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline project presently passing through Niger state territory.
The governor said, “The platform (gas terminals/pumping stations) will serve the Federal Capital Territory, the people of Niger State, the Garam Industrial Park and the Baro Port among other communities which has the potentials to boost the economic activities along the corridors of Kogi-Niger and Kaduna states.”
He explained that the platform will ultimately positively affect the industrialization drive of the Federal Government, particularly as Niger State is one of the pioneer states implementing the National LPG expansion implementation plan.
Bello further added, “Niger state is already providing lands for infrastructural investments, ease of doing business and adequate security in the LPG industry, providing state tax holidays and other fiscal incentives for private sector participation, as well as developing a comprehensive Niger state energy policy among other things.”
