Nigeria has the potential to become the continent’s top oil producer, say reps

The Federal Government has been tasked by members of the House of Representatives to expedite seismic data acquisition and geophysical survey.

According to the House, this will aid in determining whether hydrocarbon is present in the Bida Basin in Niger State in economic amounts.

The demand followed a resolution adopted by MPs during discussion of a motion introduced by Hon. Saidu Musa Abdullahi asking for the House to step in to ensure the project’s prompt completion.

In his opening speech, Hon. Abdullahi praised the current administration’s efforts while expressing his belief that the nation has the potential to become the continent of Africa’s top oil reserve nation.

The House acknowledged that the discovery of oil in the nation’s northern region is positive news for the energy sector, the Hon. Abdullahi added.

He said: “The House notes that the Bida Basin, also known as the Mid-Niger Basin, comprised of eight Local Government Areas including Mokwa, Gbako, Bida, Lavun, Katcha, Agaie, Lapai and Edati, in Niger State which extends to two Local Government Areas in Kwara State and one in Kogi State.

“The House is aware that the Group Managing Director (GMD) of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) during a visit to the Executive Governor of Niger State, His Excellency, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello to unveil the 2D Seismic Data Acquisition in the Bida Basin in 2020, announced that the NNPC had commenced oil exploration activities in the Area and that the exploration could add 40 billion barrels to Nigeria’s oil reserves by 2023.”

The Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) have been tasked by the House to complete the geophysical survey that the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), which is no longer in existence, began in order to determine the availability of hydrocarbon in commercial quantities in the Bida Basin.

The joint Committees on Legislative Compliance and Petroleum Resources (Upstream) were instructed by the Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, who presided over the plenary, to ensure that the resolution is followed.