Why FG suspended crude oil exploration in Chad Basin

….Will resume after assurance, clearance from
military
..We can’t confirm rescue of our workers from Boko Haram
terrorists

The Federal Government, yesterday, said it has suspended crude
oil exploration in the Lake Chad Basin following attack on
personnel of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, in
Borno State by suspected members of Boko Haram terrorist group.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja, Minister of State for Petroleum
Resources and Chairman of the NNPC Board, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu,
declared that NNPC would only resume production if it got
sufficient assurance and security clearance from the military
authorities, guaranteeing the safety of its personnel and
operations.

He said, “Whether we will resume, obviously, will depend again
on what security clearance is given. Certainly, we will not go back
unless they give us clearance; just like we did not go in before
they gave us clearance. Provided they are sufficient security
clearance, I don’t see why we would not continue to push.”

He described the incident as unfortunate, lamenting that the
attack still occurred after over six months in that area and
despite the fact that there were over 200 security personnel
protecting the oil exploration team, comprising members of the
military and the Civilian Joint Task Force, CJTF, and others.

He said, “The lessons we are going to take away from this
incident is that we are going to look at the security apparatus and
find out whether they are a little bit more we can do. I know that
they were over 200 security personnel, between the military, the
CJTF and others. They were very well protected, and as I said, the
activities had been going on for over six months.”

He stated that adequate security clearance was obtained from the
military authorities before exploration work resumed in the Lake
Chad Basin, adding that the day of the attack was supposed to be
last day of the operation of the team.

Yet to confirm rescue

He further stated that the NNPC is delighted by the report of
some rescue of the victims, noting, however, that it cannot
actually confirm the rescue.

“We await official confirmation from the military authorities in
line with established protocols,” Kachikwu noted.

He further stated that the military is still collating data
concerning the attack and cannot confirm the actual number of
people who died.

….Will resume after assurance, clearance from
military
..We can’t confirm rescue of our workers from Boko Haram
terrorists

The Federal Government, yesterday, said it has suspended crude
oil exploration in the Lake Chad Basin following attack on
personnel of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, in
Borno State by suspected members of Boko Haram terrorist
group.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja, Minister of State for Petroleum
Resources and Chairman of the NNPC Board, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu,
declared that NNPC would only resume production if it got
sufficient assurance and security clearance from the military
authorities, guaranteeing the safety of its personnel and
operations.

He said, “Whether we will resume, obviously, will depend again
on what security clearance is given. Certainly, we will not go back
unless they give us clearance; just like we did not go in before
they gave us clearance. Provided they are sufficient security
clearance, I don’t see why we would not continue to push.”

He described the incident as unfortunate, lamenting that the
attack still occurred after over six months in that area and
despite the fact that there were over 200 security personnel
protecting the oil exploration team, comprising members of the
military and the Civilian Joint Task Force, CJTF, and others.

He said, “The lessons we are going to take away from this
incident is that we are going to look at the security apparatus and
find out whether they are a little bit more we can do. I know that
they were over 200 security personnel, between the military, the
CJTF and others. They were very well protected, and as I said, the
activities had been going on for over six months.”

He stated that adequate security clearance was obtained from the
military authorities before exploration work resumed in the Lake
Chad Basin, adding that the day of the attack was supposed to be
last day of the operation of the team.

Yet to confirm rescue

He further stated that the NNPC is delighted by the report of
some rescue of the victims, noting, however, that it cannot
actually confirm the rescue.

“We await official confirmation from the military authorities in
line with established protocols,” Kachikwu noted.

He further stated that the military is still collating data
concerning the attack and cannot confirm the actual number of
people who died.