FG commences drilling activities, to begin oil production in Northeast

The Nigerian government has revealed plans to begin oil production in the Northeast.

Timipre Sylva, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, who disclosed this during an interview on Channels Television’s Newsnight in Abuja, the nation’s capital, which was aired on Monday and monitored by Mega Icon Magazine also submitted : “I have said it a few times that we have found oil in the northeast and we have started drilling activities in the Lake Chad Basin”.

“I don’t know how the discovery of oil in the area will impact all the issues there but on our side, we believe that in a very short time, we will start production”, Sylva continued.

He added that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world’s narrative, including the oil and gas industry, recalling that the recent meeting held by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in which Nigeria is a member was held virtually.

Justifying his claims, the Minister noted that such meetings were not envisaged before the COVID-19 era.

Reacting to the piracy, oil bunkering and illegal refining in the oil-producing region, Sylva said such activities had reduced when compared to what was obtained in the past.

“Pipeline vandalisation is less than it used to be. Before now, we had less than 50 per cent production, I can assure you that pipeline vandalisation is less than it used to be. If you compare what happens now with what obtains in the past, I think it is less now.

“There is still a lot of piracy I understand, but the law enforcement agencies are dealing with it. We are looking at other ways of dealing with it and believe that in a very short time, we will be able to get the full handle on it”.

Also speaking on the gas conversion, the Minister informed that the policy was necessitated by the Federal Government issuing an alternative to Nigeria following the deregulation of oil that will lead to the rise in oil prices.

The Minister, though, noted that gas is a cleaner and more efficient fuel, however, regretted previous administrations had not developed the nation’s gas, maintaining that Nigeria’s gas penetration is the lowest in Africa.