Nigeria has potential to become leading oil reserve in Africa – Reps

Members of the House of Representatives have tasked the Federal Government on the need to speed-up the Geo-Physical Survey/Seismic Data Acquisition.

The House said it will help to ascertain the availability of Hydro-Carbon in commercial quantities in the Bida Basin of Niger State.

The demand came following the resolution passed by lawmakers during the debate on a motion sponsored by Hon. Saidu Musa Abdullahi solicited the House intervention to ensure the timely completion of the project.

In his lead debate, Hon. Abdullahi, who expressed hope that the country has the potential to become the leading oil reserve nation in the African continent, commended efforts made so far by the present government.

Hon. Abdullahi also noted that the House acknowledged the discovery of oil in the northern region of the country is encouraging news for the energy sector.

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.”

Arising from the debate, the House tasked authorities of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited and Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory
Commission (NUPRC) to conclude the geophysical survey that the defunct Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) started in order to ascertain the availability of hydrocarbon in commercial quantity in Bida Basin.

While ruling, the Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, who presided over the plenary, directed the joint Committees on Legislative Compliance and Petroleum Resources (Upstream) to ensure the resolution is complied with.