The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has intensified efforts to unlock the hydrocarbon potential of Nigeria’s Northeast region, as its Board Chairman, Engineer Ahmadu Musa Kida, led a high-level management delegation to Borno State to discuss the resumption of oil exploration activities in the Chad Basin.
The delegation held discussions with Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, at the Government House in Maiduguri, focusing on reviving exploration activities that have remained suspended for several years.
Speaking during the visit, Kida described NNPC as a national institution holding the country’s energy resources in trust for Nigerians, stressing that the company’s growth strategy is designed to benefit all regions of the country.
He noted that the company’s ultimate stakeholders are Nigerians, adding that its development priorities should extend beyond the traditional oil-producing areas of the Niger Delta.
Also speaking, NNPC’s Executive Vice President for Upstream Operations, Udy Ntia, said the engagement was aimed at expanding Nigeria’s hydrocarbon resource base and strengthening national energy security.
Governor Zulum, while welcoming the delegation, clarified that insecurity was not responsible for the suspension of previous exploration activities. He also assured the company of the state government’s commitment to providing adequate security for its personnel and equipment.
Beyond oil exploration, the delegation also discussed opportunities in gas development, electricity generation and renewable energy.
NNPC’s Executive Vice President for Gas, Power and New Energy, Olalekan Ogunleye, acknowledged the Federal Government’s commitment to improving electricity supply in the Northeast, highlighting ongoing efforts to develop gas infrastructure that could enhance power availability in Maiduguri and neighbouring communities.
The renewed engagement is expected to strengthen collaboration between NNPC and the Borno State Government, while opening new opportunities for energy development, investment and economic growth across the Northeast.