…as FG reaffirms Kogi’s status as oil-producing state
Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has urged closer collaboration between the state and the federal government to accelerate investment in oil exploration within the state.
The governor made this call during a working visit to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, in Abuja on Thursday.
Governor Ododo reiterated his administration’s commitment to fostering an investor-friendly environment, emphasizing the state government’s readiness to partner with the federal government to ensure the smooth commencement of oil exploration in Kogi. He highlighted that this aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s agenda to advance oil exploration in Nigeria’s frontier basins.
According to a statement issued by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Ismaila Isah, Senator Lokpobiri reaffirmed Kogi’s status as an oil-producing state and expressed the federal government’s dedication to attracting investments for the development of the state’s oil resources.
The minister explained that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) mandates the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) to focus on frontier basins and assured that the federal government would channel resources towards new discoveries and exploration efforts.
Senator Lokpobiri also lauded Governor Ododo for his notable achievements in governance and efforts to enhance the well-being of Kogi residents.
Kogi State was officially recognized as the first oil-producing state in Northern Nigeria after the federal government confirmed the discovery of oil in commercial quantities in 2022.