The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has announced the discovery of oil in the Northeastern part of Nigeria. The search for oil in the Lake Chad basin has been ongoing for months now, and the efforts seem to have paid off.
The statement reads: “At about 21:20 hours of 10th October 2019, the NNPC Group’s drilling crew working at Kolmani River-II in Gongola Basin have encountered hydrocarbon outflow to the well head while performing well test operations. The gas component is currently being flared to avoid pressure build up around the drilling rig.”
The acting Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs of NNPC, Samson Makoji, announced this in a statement issued on Friday. The oil was discovered in commercial quantities in the Gongola Basin, a development Makoji said “will attract foreign investment, generate employment for people to earn income and increase government revenue.”
Tekedia Mini-MBA edition 16 (Feb 10 – May 3, 2025) opens registrations; register today for early bird discounts.
Tekedia AI in Business Masterclass opens registrations here.
Join Tekedia Capital Syndicate and invest in Africa’s finest startups here.
According to him, “it would be recalled that drilling of the Kolmani River II Well was flagged off in a colorful ceremony by President Muhammadu Buhari on the 2nd of February, 2019.”
He also noted that “the NNPC acquired 435.54km2 of 3D Seismic Data over Kolmani prospect in the Upper Benue Trough, Gongola Basin. This was to evaluate Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) Kolmani River 1 Well Discovery of 33 BCF and explore deeper levels.”
However, there have been mixed reactions to the development. While many are celebrating the oil discovery, others are of the opinion that the only good thing that will come out of it may be, ‘aiding the long advocated restructuring.’
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has announced the discovery of oil and gas in commercial quantity in the north-eastern part of the country.
The acting group general manager, group public affairs division of the corporation, Samson Makoji announced the discovery in a statement on Friday, October 11, 2019.
Makoji said the oil, which was discovered in the Gongola Basin will “attract foreign investment, generate employment for people to earn income and increase government revenues”.
The statement read, “The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has announced the discovery of hydrocarbon deposits in the Kolmani River II Well on the Upper Benue Trough, Gongola Basin, in the North-Eastern part of the country.
The oil exploration was seen as a waste of time and resources by many, not because of the unlikelihood of finding oil in the Northeast, but because many believe the oil economy era is fading away.
In the age of data mining and tech-based economy, the Nigerian government has been urged to pay less attention to oil. There is concern that the rate in which the quest for cleaner energy is gaining momentum, soon oil will be of no use.
Developed countries have shown serious commitment in building electric cars as an alternative to diesel engines. With India, Nigeria’s oil biggest consumer, joining the race of electric vehicles; the future of Nigerian oil beams with uncertainties.
