Nasarawa state governor, Abdullahi Sule, has disclosed that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), heralding the commencement of crude oil drilling and production in Keana, would take place on Saturday.
NNPCL had late last year announced the discovery of oil in commercial quality in Keana, the headquarter of Keana local government area of the state following a high-impact exploration work in the Middle of Benue Trough.
The company through the group chief executive officer Mele Kolo Kyari, hinted last month that it would commence full scale drilling of crude in Keana.
Kyari had said, “We have carried out several exploratory activities in the form of gathering the right data and making the right decisions. We are very convinced at this point in time that very soon Nasarawa will join the league of states with hydrocarbon presence.
“This is not far away. As a matter of fact, we believe that we will start the first well in Nasarawa State by March, and this is to confirm, it’s very typical science, that once we are able to make a success of that well, then the potentials of Nasarawa are beyond what I can explain at this point in time.”
Governor Sule told All Progressives Congress (APC)’s stakeholders during a town hall meeting yesterday in Obi, the headquarter of Obi local government area of the state that MoU with NNPCL would paved the way for drilling of wells.
He said preliminary findings revealed that communities in Nasarawa such as Obi, Agwatashi and Assakio showed signs of oil in commercial quantities.
“In 2019, when I came out to campaign and mentioned oil, a lot of people assumed it was mere politics. That time, I promised that, by the grace of God, I will use the experience that I acquired from my stay in Houston, Texas, the global headquarters of the oil, to try.
“As at that time, oil was discovered only in Keana. A lot of people don’t even know the extent of the oil discovery. The issue of oil has now become a reality. Now NNPCL will drill the first oil well in March.
“Preliminary findings have shown that there is also oil in Obi. This Saturday, 18th February, NNPCL and Nasarawa State Government will sign MoU. It will now dawn on people that this administration doesn’t make empty promises but only seeks to bring development to the state,” he explained.
