Daily Trust - the online edition

The Senate yesterday urged President Umaru Musa Yar’adua to direct the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), to resume exploration of crude oil on the Nigerian side of the Chad Basin and the Benue Trough.

Moving a motion on behalf of 54 other senators, Senator Bala Mohammed told the apex lawmaking body that huge volumes of hydrocarbons have been discovered in Niger and Chad Republics due to persistent exploration activities on their side of the river basins.

In attempting to resolve the huge energy crisis in the country due to non availability of crude oil and gas feedstock, renewed exploration activities in these basins are required through the provision of incentives to attract new investors, Senator Mohammed said.

The Senate, therefore, called on the Federal Government to facilitate the financing of oil exploration in the region as well as in the Anambra basin.

He further stated that instead of government plans to lay gas pipes from the Niger Delta to the North, the 33 billion cubic feet of gas found at Kolmani River-1 at Alkaleri, Bauchi State, holds a gas reservoir capable of effectively providing the entire Northern parts of the country with alternative power, thereby saving government spending and the attendant ecological degradation along pipeline routes. 

In his contribution to the motion, Senator George Sekibo said additional oil exploration in the country will not only improve the economic standing of the country, but also increase its global status among the comity of nations.

Senator Bala Mohammed said it could be recalled that the 5th Senate after conducting public hearings on the matter, resolved to call on the NNPC to expedite action on the studies of various data collected from the Benue Trough and the Nigerian sector of the Chad Basin.

	1. 02-05-2008 15:08
	oil Exploration Supported in the spirit of national development, espcially if it will add value. Guest

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	2. 02-05-2008 12:22
	True Arewa reps! I am quite happy with this developmental motion. This is our one and only chance Allah Has given to us, to make gud use of it by crude oil exploration in the North. Mr President, Engr Yar'adua and Northern legistlators all eyes on you for action. Senator Bala Mohammed, I salute you with this motion. Guest

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	3. 02-05-2008 10:47
	oil in the north It is a good idear to resume the oil exploration in the north. It will go a long way in boosting Nigeria's economy at large and Northern Nigeria's economy in particular.  However, i want to remind us here that, Northern Nigeria can develop with or without oil so far there is commitment. Guest

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	4. 02-05-2008 08:19
	Mr. Vickie is only being Myopic in his/her thought. with or without oil, north can still excel. afterall, the development of nigeria was majorly made from farm produce of the north and the north still lead in nigeria food supply. remember that the investment which saw the exploration of oil in the niger delta was also from the wealth nigeria made from agriculture. i pray oil exploration in the north will come to light for it will generate huge employment for nigerian youths. Guest

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	5. 02-05-2008 01:21
	Mr. Vickie, its people like u that cause all the crisis in this country with ur selfish thoughts that whatever tribe u come from are more hardworking than the northerners. God willing the oil wil be found and parasites like u wil shut their smelly traps. Guest

mimi

	6. 02-05-2008 01:05
	oil exploration Madam vickie, its people like u that give nigeria a bad name. Wherever u come from am surč the people there are not more hard working than anyone in the north. As for the exploration, the oil wil be found and parasites like u can shut their smelly traps and let the nation grow. Guest

mimi

	7. 02-05-2008 01:05
	oil exploration Madam vickie, its people like u that give nigeria a bad name. Wherever u come from am surč the people there are not more hard working than anyone in the north. As for the exploration, the oil wil be found and parasites like u can shut their smelly traps and let the nation grow. Guest

mimi

	8. 01-05-2008 23:28
	search! The North can search until the cows come home but they will never find it. They are too lazy to even begin the search :P Guest

Vickie

	9. 01-05-2008 21:09
	parasites jackson gayus obaseki once call the northern states parasites cos they dont have ,crude oil same to punchnewspaper cartoons, what will the north provide in term of natural resources,than the amputated hands ,it is good development if the exercise will continue,but the problem is still nigerian factor,of neglecting of various important projects Guest

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	10. 01-05-2008 18:13
	sai an matsa Really you have tried but Northern Senators should remember that paper work is not enough, pressure is needed from their side for the success of the proposal. ALLAH YA BAKU SA'A ko ma samu sauki. Guest

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