ACF silent on NEF’s endorsement of Atiku, commends oil drilling in North

By : Abdulganiyu Alabi, Kaduna

Date: 5 February 2019 5:14am WAT

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar raises his hands in victory after he won the presidential ticket of the opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP) during the national convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on October 7, 2018. Former vice president Atiku Abubakar will challenge incumbent Muhammadu Buhari for the Nigerian presidency early next year after winning the opposition Democratic Peoples Party primary, an AFP reporter at the vote said on October 7, 2018. Abubakar, 71, won 1,532 votes, trouncing his main rival Aminu Tambuwal, the governor of northern Sokoto state who scored 693 votes at the party's convention in the southeastern oil hub of Port Harcourt. PIUS UTOMI EKPEI / AFP

Barely 24 hours after the endorsement of Atiku Abubakar for presidency by the Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF), the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) yesterday acommended President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration for the commencement of oil drilling in the North.

ACF lauded the President’s initiative 24 hours after the Professor Ango Abdullahi led-NEF endorsed Atiku for the presidency.

The forum described oil and gas drilling operations in the Spud-In of Kolmani River-11 well in the Gongola Basin in Bauchi State as a welcome development.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim Biu, ACF noted that the oil and gas exploration would add value to the nation’s economy.

“Government’s demonstration of the political will to aggressively pursue oil exploration in the Northern part of the country clearly dovetails with its economic recovery and growth plan, which could boost economic benefits, particularly in the North and entire country,” it stated.

The ACF, therefore, commended the Federal Government and urged it to sustain oil and gas exploration efforts in the other frontier basins.

“In this respect, ACF appeals to the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) to ensure that the Presidential directive on the oil exploration campaigns in Chad Basin, Gongola, Anambra, Sokoto, Bida Basins and Benue Trough are carried out to the letter and spirit,” it added.