Afenifere reacts to oil exploration in north
– Afenifere urged President Buhari to intensify search for oil in north
– The group says this will boost Nigeria’s economy
– It noted that it is part of the clamour for restructuring
Afenifere has reacted to the on-going oil exploration in the north following an order from President Muhammadu Buhari.
The exploration which is focusing on the Chad basin has yielded a level of success as 19 governors from the north employed a British firm to carry out the project,
READ ALSO: Exploration of oil in north-east commenced
The Punch reports that the pan Yoruba group said the exploration of by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation was a boost to Nigeria’s economy.
Chief Sehinde Arogbofa who is the secretary-general of Afenifere said the success was part of the restructuring that they have been clamouring for.
He said: “There is nothing wrong if they find oil in the north. That is why we are calling for restructuring, if that is his ( Buhari) own restructuring agenda, it is okay. We already have oil in the south and if he orders for prospect for oil in the north, there is nothing wrong in that.
“If that is what we hasten the restructuring of the country, he should go ahead. All we saying is that the country must be restructured.”
He noted that contrary to popular assumption, the exploration did not begin during President Buhari’s exploration and urged him to intensify the project.
READ ALSO: Buhari directs to intensify oil search in north-east
“We have said that any state that has oil should work on its oil and let other states without oil find their own natural resources to work on. God has endowed every state in this country with natural resources so let every state go and do something on them, the only thing is that the Federal Government should assist in taking off.
“If it is NNPC that was given the assignment, let them go ahead, there is nothing wrong with it but if it is the foreign firm I can say may be there is a hidden agenda somewhere.”
The exploration of oil is expected to stop the over-reliance on Niger Delta oil that has brought about the rise in militancy in the region.
This is also coming following the exportation of oil in Lagos which is also a move that will reduce focus on Niger Delta.
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