The Etsu Nupe and Chairman, Niger State Council of Traditional rulers, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, has expressed worry that despite feasibility study that shows possibility of large crude deposits along the Bida trough, nothing has been done by way of exploring for crude oil in the area.
The Etsu Nupe spoke at his Wadata Palace when he hosted a team from the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) led by the state Controller, Abdullahi Isah Jankara at Bida, the ancient city of Nupe kingdom.
Apparently reacting to the Niger Delta militants’ demand for control of crude from the region and the attendant repercussions of their activities to other parts of the country, the Etsu Nupe said that the Federal Government should as a matter of urgency commence crude oil exploration along the Bida Basin where hydro carbon was discovered in large quantity.
Niger State government has on its part reached appreciable stage of not only reaching out to interested investors but; surveying, cross-examination and assessment carried out but what is left at the moment is for the government to approve and input for work to commence.
He said that the state government has long been longing for the actualization of the Bida Basin project for quiet sometime, adding however that the dream is long overdue hence the establishment of DPR in the state would fast-track and ease difficulties in petroleum businesses in the state.
The traditional ruler therefore solicited for the financial support of the Federal Government to start work soon to actualize the dreams of the state to be counted among oil producing states of the federation just as he also challenged the DPR in the state to partner with the state government in its activities if they most succeed.
He also urged the filling stations operating without licenses across Niger State to take the advantage of the establishment of DPR in the state to obtain the required documentations to aid their businesses and also end plight of Nigerians purchasing the products at unofficial rate.
The state DPR Controller, Isah Jankara, had earlier informed the traditional ruler that only 40% of about 1, 500 filling stations in the state have genuine licenses required before they can be allowed to operate.
About 600 others operating in the state are operating illegally, Jankara said and assured of his preparedness to regularize the present situation in the state and solicited the support of traditional institutions in the state towards actualizing set objectives for maximum advantages.
While applauding the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for the establishment of DPR in the state, Jankara called on Nigerians to support the federal government’s Change Agenda to enable it succeed in its mandate.
.Source: nigerianewsflight.com
