The Vice Chancellor Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai Professor, Abu Kasim Adamu, has assured environmental researchers from Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai and the Federal University of Tecchnology, Minna of continuous support and cooperation to able them carry out their research activities effectively.
He gave the assurance while declaring open a one-day induction workshop for the conduct of environmental baseline study and environmental impact assessment of Bida Basin for the Frontier Exploration Services which held at the Senate Chamber of the University.
The Vice Chancellor affirmed that the two institutions are partners in progress as the University has continued to engage the Bida Basin in different dimension of geological research, working closely with Federal university of Technology, Minna.
According to him IBBU was invited by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation for discussions on the University’s engagement in the Bida Basin in 2017, noting that the University saw the gesture by the Corporation as a step to further consolidate the relationship between both Parties.
Professor Adamu recalled that, the NNPC had endowed her first Professorial Chair on the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, stating that IBBU would be paying tribute to Dr. Maikanti Kacalla Barau by commissioning a Geological Research Centre named after him, and a Perimeter Fence, all built by the Corporation.
Professor Abu Kasim urged the selected participants to carry out the project to make do the limited resources that will be advanced by the university as well as see themselves as critical stakeholders and partners, however, congratulates the researchers from IBBU and FUT Minna.
In his paper presentation titled Oil Exploration in Nigeria and Environmental Impact Assessment Studies: The Technicalities and the Socio-Economic Impacts, the Coordinating Director Research and Development, IBBU, Professor Nuhu Obaje explained that the oil exploration started in Nigeria in 1917 by Bitumen Company of Nigeria, a German company prior to entry by Shell D’Achy in 1937.
Professor Obaje said the country needs oil because it is still oil dependent, affirming that the world is now in the Energy Transition Era and concluded that Nigeria has more gas than oil. He stated that Nigeria must prepare for a gas economy.
He further submitted stated that the NNPC through its Frontier Exploration Services business unit is responsible for commercial and detailed exploration of all Nigeria’s frontier basins comprising the Anambra Basin, Benue Trough, Bida Basin, Chad Basin, Dahomey Basin and Sokoto Basin.
The Professorial Chair further stated that oil exploration campaigns to shore up Nigeria’s oil and gas reserves with focus on frontier basins has a national interest. He said the NNPC has intensified exploration of the Bida and Sokoto Basins with the commissioning of the EIA studies and conduct of detailed seismic survey and near-future exploratory drillings in the both basins.
Professor Nuhu Obaje explained that an EIA is developed to ensure successful operations with minimum negative impacts on the surrounding environment noting that a successful economic development depends on rational use of resources as well as reducing the possible adverse environmental and social impacts of developmental projects.
Obaje said the Bida Basin would be sectioned into two for respective studies by the IBBU Lapai and FUT Minna with harmonization of both reports at the project management level.
Presenting a Goodwill message on behalf of the Vice Chancellor Federal University of Technology Minna, the Director University Advancement, Professor Abdullahi Idris-Nda affirmed that the EIA study will go a long way in strengthening the partnership and cooperation of the two institutions.
The Vice Chancellor, FUT Minna noted that he is very optimistic that this will also stand to be another stronger tier with IBBU appreciating the University for effectively taking the lead on this project.
In his Closing Remarks, the Registrar Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai, Alhaji Musa Ango Abdullahi, applauded the NNPC for recognizing IBB University Lapai and FUT Minna to jointly carry out this project.
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