Buhari to Resume Oil Search in Chad Basin

In line with his resolve to boost the socio-economic fortunes of the country, the President-elect, General Mu­hammadu Buhari, (retired) has declared his intention to resume oil exploration in the Chad Basin.

General Buhari, who spoke on Sunday, added that his in­coming administration would also focus on bringing stabil­ity to the North East.

Buhari spoke at his resi­dence in Kaduna while re­sponding to requests by Gov­ernor Kashim Shettima; the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Elkanemi and some el­ders from Borno State during a con­gratulatory visit to the President-elect.

Buhari said he was very much aware of the problems of the North East and would not waste time in tackling them. He promised to pay special attention to the security and economic potentials of the North East so as to make it attractive for investments.

While acknowledging delays in oil exploration in the Chad Basin, the incoming President said he was very much aware of exploration ac­tivities in the area since 1978 as Min­ister of Petroleum and would take it up as President when he settles in office.

Buhari said he had, years ago, suggested the need to take the search for oil in the North seriously, not only to increase the export poten­tials of Nigeria, but also to balance cross-regional perceptions and man­age agitations so as to enhance the stability of the country.

The President-elect also assured the delegation that the receding of Lake Chad would be addressed through the transfer of water from the Central African Republic to the lake to boost its commercial activi­ties for fishing and irrigation farm­ing.

He noted that the lake has the potentials to create millions of jobs through irrigation and other com­mercial uses it was noted for years ago.

On security, Buhari said his ad­ministration would enhance collabo­ration with neighbouring govern­ments of Chad, Niger and Cameroun to curtail the trans-border move­ment of Boko Haram insurgents, cut supply of arms, cut recruitment and training of fresh recruits.

Governor Shettima who led the delegation in company of traditional rulers, elders, elected National and State Assembly members and other stakeholders, had earlier disclosed that they were at the resident of the president-elect to congratulate him over his historic victory at the polls and to also remind him of problems affecting Borno State.

The governor said the people of Borno felt so attached to General Buhari having served as military governor in the state. He said the citizens looked up to him with so much hope because the President-elect was very much familiar with the problems of the State and how it has suffered in the last six years ow­ing to massive killings of its people and destruction of communities and public institutions.

The Shehu of Borno, Alh Abuba­kar Ibn umar Garbai Al Amim El-kanemi, appealed to Buhari to consider making the Federal Gov­ernment take over the welfare of youths volunteers fighting insur­gency in the state, noting that Borno State Government has been spend­ing so much on that in addition to huge expenditures on managing the Boko Haram insurgency. The Shehu also appealed for Buhari’s interven­tion on resumption of commercial airlines to Maiduguri International Airport suspended almost two years ago.

Chairman of Borno Elders Fo­rum, Ambassador Usman Gaji Galti­mari, expressed optimism that with Buhari’s track record of service, he would address the needs of Borno citizens and also move the nation forward.