• Zulum hails solar plant project

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has reaffirmed its commitment to commence oil exploration in Borno State’s Lake Chad Basin, pledging to work with the state government and the communities in the oil exploration activities in the basin, which comprises seven local councils.

NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Bashir Ojulari, gave the assurance when the board of directors, led by Non-Executive Chairman, Ahmadu Kida, paid a courtesy visit to Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, at the Government House in Maiduguri yesterday.

The meeting discussed the company’s proposed oil exploration projects in the state and a solar power initiative in the basin.

Assuring the company of the state government’s support, Zulum said adequate security measures were already in place to protect exploration activities, adding that the solar power plant would be a game changer in energy supply when completed.

He urged the corporation to start and complete the project in record time, stating that the current power supply from the national grid and the Maiduguri Emergency Gas Plant was not sustainable.

He also disclosed approving 145 hectares of land for the project and a waiver for the N10 million fee expected from the corporation to the Borno Government to accelerate the project’s take-off.

Earlier, Kida listed the company’s focus areas in Borno to include upstream expansion and the resumption of oil prospecting, as well as gas and renewable energy projects.

He said the company was seeking community ownership of the crude oil prospecting, which would resume soon, adding that NNPCL would work closely with security agencies.