11 February 2014, Abuja – Gov. Babangida Aliyu of Niger on Monday urged the Federal Government to intensify oil exploration activities in the Northern part of the country.
Aliyu made the remark when he received Commissioners for Solid Minerals from Zamfara, Sokoto, Plateau, Kwara and Kogi, in his office in Minna.
The commissioners were in the state for a one day meeting of the Association of Petroleum Basins of Northern Nigeria.
He said the Federal Government could invest directly in the explorative work on the oil potential in the northern part of the country to improve the oil reserves by extension the revenue earning potential.
He said the government could concede to oil producers to explore the oil potential in those states as the Niger Republic Government had done with the Chinese firm as explorative activities were costly venture.
Aliyu urged them to work out the possible timetable for the government explorative activities on each state.
He expressed optimism that the oil potential of Bida Basin would be explore for the benefit of the state and the country.
– NAN
