The House of Representatives has voted against Bauchi state’s i bid to be named as an oil producing state in Nigeria.
The dissenting voices was sequel a motion brought before the House by Hon. Yakubu Shehu Abdullahi,which was titled, “Need for the Federal Government to Declare Bauchi State as Oil and Gas Producing State.”
He said that oil and gas remain critical to the economic development of Nigeria and key to the implementation of budgets at all levels of government;
He noted that on 2 February, 2019 President Muhamadu Buhari flags off the Spud-In of Kolmani River II well Drilling in Bauchi State and directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to extend its exploration to six basins in the country;
He expressed that it has become imperative to ascertain the fortunes at the disposal of the Federal
Government in Alkaleri Local Government Area so as to hasten the process of giving effect to the provisions of the new Petroleum Industry Bill, 2021 just passed by the National Assembly in terms of the economic benefit the host community stands to gain.
He emphasized the of need for the people of Bauchi to start benefiting from the 13% derivation being the host community incentives provided for by the law;
According to him,oil exploration in Bauchi State commenced since 2018 and up till today it is still ongoing but no official report on whether the exercise is a success or not and Nigerians, particularly the people of Bauchi State who are to benefit from the 13% derivation are anxiously waiting to witness the economic benefit;
He added that it is the statutory function of the parliament to enact law in any sector of the economy and take measures in order to create an environment for certainty, confidence and assurance for equitable treatment of the people.
He said it was necessary to mandate the Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) to invite the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation to give comprehensive representation on the level of work in the oil exploration currently undertaken in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State and the successes recorded.
But the chorus of dissenting voices to Abdullahi’s motion,outweighed those who are in support of the his state to join the league of producing ones in the country.
Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, in what looked like a rescue mission for the Bauchi’s desire to belong to the league of prstigeous oil producing states of Nigeria, put the question three good times, and for the three times it got overwhelming rejection.
