From Saka Bolaji – Minna
The Etsu Nupe and Chairman, Niger State Council of Traditional rulers, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, has appealed to the Federal Government (FG) to as a matter of urgency launch exploration activities in Bida Basin where hydro carbon was discovered in a large quantity.
The royal father made the call on Tuesday in his Wadata Palace when the State Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Controller, Engineer Abdullahi Isah Jankara and his team paid him a courtesy visit in Bida the ancient city of Nupe Kingdom.
Abubakar stated that the state government had reached appreciable stage of survey, cross-examination and assessment had been carried out but needed the Federal Government approval and input for interested investors to commence work, having reached out to them already.
He said that the state government had been seeking the actualization of the Bida Basin project for some time and that it was long overdue.
He therefore called for financial support from the Federal government so work would start soon to actualized the dreams of the state to be counted among oil-producing state in the federation.
The monarch also told DPR to partner with the state government in its activities and urged filling stations operating without licence sto take the advantage of the establishment of DPR in the state to obtain them.
In his remarks, Jankara disclosed that only 40% of about 1,500 filling stations in the state has the genuine licence to operate, assuring however to regularise the situation.
Jankara charged the traditional councils to assist and support the DPR to sensitise the people, especially the stakeholders on the need to license their business and its advantages.
He lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for the establishment of DPR in the state.
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