Aliyu Inaugurates C’ttee On Oil In Bida Basin

Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu on Saturday inaugurated a committee on the development of the Bida Basin to ascertain the availability of oil deposit in the basin.

The governor, who inaugurated the committee at Government House, Minna, said government was excited at the prospects of oil potentials in the Bida Basin.

“However, we are mindful of other implications of such a discovery, and the tendency for oil revenue to become a resource curse of Dutch disease rather than a blessing, if the situation is not well managed.

“That is the reason we have put together this committee of experienced people to comprehensively look at the prospects and implications of oil to our socio-economic development.

“We need to go beyond looking at the environmental impact of oil discovery, to impact on the people’s socio-economic means, especially agriculture.

“We cannot afford to abandon agriculture and solid mineral resources for any reason, for there lay our comparative economic advantage as a state; to do so will be at a great risk and price,” he said.

The governor urged the committee headed by retired Lt. Gen. Inuwa Wushishi to ascertain whether the basin’s hydrocarbon deposits were of commercial quantity and liaise with appropriate federal government agencies in ensuring adequate preparation for its exploration.

Aliyu urged the members to recommend rules and regulations that would mitigate environmental pollution, conduct environmental impact assessment and social impact assessment.

He also told the committee members to look for investors willing to set up a refinery and embark on exploration.

“ Our economic survival is hinged on the wise decisions we are able to make in the right direction,’’ he said.

In his response, Wushishi assured the governor that the committee would do everything possible to ensure that it succeeded in view of the importance attached the assignment.