Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai was fully represented at the just concluded oil exploration flag-off performed by President Muhammadu Buhari in Nasarawa State.

The occasion which took place in Ebenyi, Obi Local Government area of Nasarawa State was attended by a lot of oil magnets in the country.

There is no doubt that President Muhammadu Buhari has performed another wonder in the oil industry in Nigeria.

The President who welcomed guests and stakeholders to what he described as a very momentous occasion
which was in line with the ongoing campaigns for the exploration of crude oil and gas in the Nation’s Frontier Basins, including the Chad Basin, Dahomey Basin, Anambra Platform, the Calabar Embankment, Sokoto Basin, Bida Basin, Benue Trough as well as the Ultra – Deepwater Niger Delta.

He equally eulogized the NNPC Limited for exploiting the prospects in the Middle Benue Trough, leading to the event.

President Buhari therefore congratulated the NNPC Limited, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and other partners for their immense contributions towards making the event possible.

“I am happy that the consequent positive outcomes of these drilling campaigns will lead to greater prosperity for our people and especially enhance overall energy security for our country. No doubt, the surrounding communities will particularly benefit from the value that will be created by the exploration and eventual production activities, “he added.

Considering the environmental impact of oil exploration, the President counselled the NNPC thus: “I am also admonishing NNPC Limited and its partners to take due care of the environmental consequences of these oil exploration activities and to mitigate the negative effects.”

Speaking, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of NNPC Ltd, Mallam Mele Kolo Kyari, described the event as an important milestone in the efforts to harness the abundant natural resources of the country.

In a goodwill message, Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regularly Commission (NUPRC), Chief Executive, Engineer Gbenga Komolafe, said the event marked another milestone in the decades of hydrocarbon exploration in the inland frontier basins and underscores the effort government is making in ensuring that requisite investments are made in Frontier Basin exploration in Nigeria.

He paid a glowing tribute to President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment in mitigating energy poverty, creating shared prosperity and enthroning sustainable growth in the country’s economy.

He said one of the key regulatory focus of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) is to grow reserves from the current 37 Billion barrels of oil to 40 Billion barrels of oil by 2030.

The Chairman, Nasarawa State Council of Traditional Rulers, Justice Sidi Bage Muhammed 1, used the opportunity to thank President Buhari, all stakeholders in the oil industry, the people of the State, and prayed that the development would signpost the beginning of new things.

The presence of key stakeholders from IBB University, Lapai was important in view of the role the Institution has been playing in oil exploration efforts in the Bida and Sokoto Basins, coupled with other researchers.

It is also in the same pedestal that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), in 2018 instituted the first ever Basinal Studies Professorial Chair in the Institution.

It would be recalled the Basinal Studies Chair instituted by the NNPC at the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai has the mandate to study all Nigeria sedimentary basins with high focus on Bida and Sokoto Basins.

Geologists from the University under the Chair projects with support from the company had traversed the Middle Benue Trough several times and had generated considerable de-risking data making the University a critical stakeholder in the exploration and eventual production.

The University had continually cherished her collaboration with the NNPC and shares in the joy of this discovery making it one of the many achievements of Mr. President, Muhammadu Buhari and stewardship of Mallam Mele Kolo Kyari.

Also on the trip was the Registrar, Alhaji Idris Saleh Kusherki and some other staff of the University.