By David Okpashi (Nasarawa State Correspondent, in Lagos)
Nasarawa State Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) have concluded arrangements to sign an MOU on Saturday this week to mark the commencement of oil drilling in the state.
Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, who dropped the hint during a town hall meeting with APC stakeholders in Obi, stated that all is now set for the signing of the MoU with the NNPCL to pave way for the drilling of the first oil well in Keana. Another oil well is also said to have been discovered in Obi Local Government Area of the state.
Gov Sule while stating that his administration will not relent until Nasarawa State is listed among the oil producing states and begins to enjoy the 13 percent derivation, however, denounced the insinuations that the presence of oil in Nasarawa State was not having anything to do with his re-election campaign.
“In 2019, when I came out to campaign and mentioned oil, a lot of people assumed it was a mere political campaign. At that time, I promised that, by the grace of God, I will use my experience that I have acquired from my stay in Houston, Texas, global headquarters of the oil, to bring Nasarawa to lamp light. This is what we are bringing to the state today", Gov. Sule declared.
“As at that time, oil was discovered only in Keana. A lot of people don’t know the amount of the oil discovery. The issue of oil has now become a reality. NNPCL will drill the first oil well in March. Preliminary findings have shown that there is also oil in Obi. This Saturday, 18th February, NNPCL and Nasarawa State Government will sign MoU. It will now dawn on people that this administration doesn’t make empty promises but only seeks to bring development to the state.
“I will not rest until we finally join the league of oil producing states and we begin to enjoy the 13 percent derivation. We expect to see appreciable progress by May this year,” he state.
Earlier at the palace of the Zhe Mighili, in Jenkwe Development Area, governor Sule re-affirmed that his administration has set aside over two billion Naira as counterpart funding for the construction and rehabilitation of schools.
He commended the traditional rulers resilience, commitment and concerns shown within his four years in office and assured them of more development in the state if re-elected in the forthcoming general elections. NNL.
