Oil exploration in the Chad Basin, Borno State

The oil windfall that came with the discovery of crude oil in commercial quantity in Oluibiri, a community in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria in the 50’s and the activities that followed have plagued the region as well as the entire country. People now tend to describe the crude oil as a ‘curse’ considering the environmental degradation of the region and the crisis the revenues have engendered in the polity.

The below-international best standard practice of oil exploration and production activities by the International Oil Companies (IOCs) in the Niger Delta took the form of oil spills, environmental pollution/degradation, destruction of landscape, unemployment, socio-economic/socio-political instability and pervasive poverty, among others in the states that make up the region.

Therefore, it was not surprising to some political or economic analysts that with oil discovery comes the political power play, which, over the years, has contributed to the menace and disaster in the Niger Delta through oil spills, bombing of pipelines, and kidnapping.

It however, took concerted efforts by President Umaru Yar’Adua to declare an amnesty programme before relative peace could return to the region. Similar situation also placed out towards the end of 2015, when the militants in the creeks declared total war on all oil installations in the Niger Delta, an action that almost crippled the nation’s economy by plunging Nigeria into its first recession in a decade.

However, it was surprising when the Federal Government through the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) announced earlier this year that in order to build up Nigeria’s oil reserve through exploration of new frontiers for oil and gas production, the NNPC shall intensify oil prospecting in the Chad Basin.

Government believes that prospecting for oil in the Chad Basin is a plus to the nation’s economy and an addition to its oil reserve. Nevertheless, it was the rush at which the government is pursuing the project that raised concerns to analysts considering the level of insecurity and insurgency in the region.

Even though the government claimed, Boko Haram has been technically defeated and chased out of Sambisa forest, which used to serve as the terrorist stronghold, recent activities by the group however, suggest otherwise.

It was the recent rise in Boko Haram activities shortly after the NNPC resumed oil prospecting in the Chad Basin that raised the question about the timing of the project.

Equally surprising are the actions taken by government and the stand of the authorities of the University of Maiduguri insisting that the attack on members of the institution’s academic staff would not deter the university from participating in future crude oil exploration in the Chad Basin.

According to a statement credited to the university’s Vice-Chancellor (VC), Professor Ibrahim Njodi, while receiving a delegation from the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu and the NNPC led by its Chief Operating Officer in charge of Gas and Power, Saidu Mohammed.

The VC had pledged the commitment of the university to go the whole hog with the NNPC in the search for commercial hydrocarbon deposits in the Chad basin despite the recent attack on the university, even though the corporation had earlier suggested it was considering short term palliatives for families of the victims and called for a suspension of the activities.

It was also counter-logic for the Borno State Government to have called on the NNPC to continue its quest for crude oil in the state despite incessant attacks by Boko Haram, by urging NNPC not to allow the attack discourage it and cause it to discontinue the search for oil in the state.

This singular action by the state government clearly showed the price those in government in Nigeria place on its citizenry, and how much premium they are willing to pay to safeguard the lives of Nigerians.

Olugbemi Aladenika, Librarian: There is nothing bad in Nigeria exploring oil in Chad Basin; one thing to note is to tackle the insurgency attacks in Borno State. The major challenge to oil exploration in the region is the insurgency attacks there; if there is collective responsibility from the masses and Federal Government to combat Boko Haram. The timing is wrong because if Nigeria begins oil exploration there now, the issue of security will resurface and even get worse than it is currently.

Nnamdi Alex, stock broker: The truth is that our present leader, that is, President Muhammed Buhari; I will say is insensitive to what the issue of Boko Haram is. I said so because he tends to believe everything his inner cabinet tells him. Let me tell you, Boko Haram is still a strong force operating in the Northeast and anybody who tells you it has been defeated is just lying to you.

Based on this fact, why then risk the lives of innocent citizens prospecting for oil when the place is not safe for that activity? That shows you that our leaders are not in charge of the things happening in this country but believe what few members of the cabal tell them. So, in my opinion why rush to find oil if the place is not safe? Suspend oil exploration in the Chad Basin indefinitely until the region is safe.

Abraham Oyelade, self-employed: In my opinion, any environment, which lacks safe and secure atmosphere, is not the right place to carry out any act designed to bring about economic development. So, security and peace should have been the first thing to establish before prospecting for oil in an unstable region such as Borno State.

Charles Adewale, communication expert: I think it is not necessary prospecting for oil in the Chad Basin considering the level of insecurity in the region, especially now that government is talking about diversification of the economy. Again, it is bad timing that has led to the lost of many innocent lives in the course of the recent attack.

Samuel Olugbenga, a teacher in Lagos: Boko Haram or insurgency in the Borno State should not hinder us from achieving economic objectives as a nation, especially now that oil is our sole source of revenue. There is no right timing even as a man, in planning; there is no right timing