The House of Representatives implored the federal government to expedite action on the planned exploration of hydrocarbon (crude oil) deposit in the Bida Basin.
The House also urged the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to conclude the geophysical survey that the defunct Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) started in order to ascertain the availability of hydro-carbon in commercial quantity in Bida Basin.
The resolution sequel the consideration and adoption of a motion on notice on the ‘Need to Fast-Track Geo-Physical Survey/Seismic Data Acquisition to Ascertain availability of
Hydro-Carbon in Commercial Quantity in the Bida Basin,’ brought by Hon. Saidu Musa Abdullahi, member representing Bida/Gbajo/Kacha federal constituency of Niger State.
Presenting the motion,the legislator noted that “the Bida Basin also known as the Mid-Niger Basin comprises of eight Local Government Areas including Mokwa, Lavun, Gbako, Bida, Katcha, Agaie, Edati and Lapai in the Southern part of Niger State which extends to two Local Government Areas in Kwara State and one in Kogi State.
“The Group Managing Director (GMD) of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) 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 NNPCL 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 Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited is responsible for the Frontier Exploration Services in 2020 noted that in-depth Geo-logical and Geochemical studies revealed a strong presence of hydrocarbon-bearing indicators confirmed as oil and gas-bearing formations.
“The seismic data acquisition contract on the identified areas to determine the volume of the hydrocarbons in the Bida Basin was awarded to Integrated Data Services Limited and the China National Petroleum Corporation International Nigeria Limited by the NNPCL management.
“The discovery of oil in another region of Nigeria is good news for the country’s
energy sector and that if the volume of oil in the Bida Basin is established and exploration activities commence fully, Nigeria may, in the near future, overtake Libya, the country with the largest oil reserve in Africa.
“Expectant that the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and its relevant Agencies would expedite action for the continuation of the oil exploration activities at the Bida Basin Niger State and other Basins in the country.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the NNPC Management to fast-track oil exploration across the Country, following Shell’s discovery of hydrocarbons in the Chad Basin and Kolmani River, while the NNPC heeded President Buhari’s directive on the Chad Basin as the people of Niger State are anxious about the slow pace of oil exploration activities in the Bida Basin,” he noted.
The House mandated the committees on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) and Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance.
