President Buhari begins oil exploration in Nasarawa

On Tuesday, President Muhammadu Buhari cut the ribbon on the first oil drilling operation at the Ebenyi-A Exploration Well. The well is located in the Middle Benue Trough in the Obi Local Government Area of the Nasarawa State.

In his speech during the well’s “virtual spud-in ceremony,” Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari admonished the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPCL) and its partners to take appropriate precautions regarding the environmental effects of oil exploration activities and to take steps to mitigate the adverse effects.
It is important to remember that Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State and Malam Mele Kyari, Group CEO of NNPCL, were among the individuals who performed the spud-in ceremony on behalf of President Buhari.
In addition to these notable figures, other dignitaries such as Mr. Gbenga Komolafe, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), retired Justice Bage Muhammad, Emir of Lafia, and various royal fathers were present.

The President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, stated that the recent oil find was in line with ongoing campaigns for the exploration of crude oil and gas in the country’s Frontier Basins.
“The event that we are celebrating today is significant because it marks the official beginning of exploration drilling activities in the Middle Benue Trough.

“This is consistent with the commercial discoveries of hydrocarbons in the Kolmani Area of the Upper Benue Trough,” the researcher said. “This is consistent with the findings.”

“I am pleased to note that activities are currently underway to develop the Kolmani petroleum discoveries into commercial production in order to add to the substantial hydro-carbon assets held by the nation.

“I am encouraged by the enormous work done by NNPC Limited to exploit the prospects in the Middle Benue Trough, leading to the event of today,” he said. “I am encouraged by the enormous work done by NNPC Limited to exploit the prospects in the Middle Benue Trough.”

The President extended his gratitude to the NNPCL, the NUPRC, and all of the other partners for the significant contributions they made to ensuring the success of the exploration.

He expressed his happiness with the subsequent successful outcomes of the drilling campaigns, which he said would lead to increased prosperity for Nigerians and especially improve the country’s overall energy security. He also expressed his pleasure with the positive outcomes of the drilling campaigns.

Buhari went on to say that the communities that were close by would especially benefit from the value that would be created by the activities of exploration and eventual production.

He also thanked the government of Nasarawa and the people of Nasarawa, particularly the community that had hosted the exploration team, for their unrestricted support and collaboration, which contributed to the success of the exploration campaign.