Zulum stands firm against moving NNPC equipment from Borno

Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has rejected plans by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to move oil exploration equipment out of the state. He believes Maiduguri is safer than Abuja and sees no reason to relocate equipment meant for the Chad Basin project.

During a visit in Maiduguri by the NNPCL Board Chairman, Ahmadu Musa Kida, Governor Zulum criticized recent actions by the oil company. He said equipment was being moved quietly under the excuse of security and maintenance issues.

While addressing the delegation led by Mr Kida, Zulum expressed worry over the unannounced moves to take important exploration equipment out of active sites in Borno. He mentioned recent orders to send machinery to Taraba State for repairs.

"We were very worried at first when we were told that the equipment should be taken somewhere else for safekeeping," Zulum said. "Why is somewhere else safer than Borno State? Maybe Abuja is not safer than Maiduguri. I am telling you, we can walk by 1:00 AM or 2:00 AM within Maiduguri."

The governor pointed out that local expertise exists to handle repairs in Borno. He questioned why equipment was being removed without consulting local authorities first.

"We just heard without notice that some of the equipment had started moving from the site to somewhere else. A few days ago, we also heard that the equipment will be taken to Taraba for repairs. We don’t believe in this. There is nothing that we can’t repair in Borno State," he stated.

Zulum denied claims that insecurity caused a halt to exploration, saying the state government has provided security personnel to protect NNPCL operations.

He shared that security at the Chad Basin exploration site includes hundreds of military personnel, police officers, armed members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), local hunters, and vigilantes watching over heavy machinery.

The governor said no security incidents have happened at the sites since operations restarted. He added that earlier disruptions were due to administrative issues. He also mentioned that the state recently got a formal notice from NNPC Energy Services Limited to resume field operations.

Zulum emphasized Borno’s strategic location next to Chad, Niger, and Cameroon. He believes that discovering commercial hydrocarbons in the Chad Basin could make the North-East a key commercial center for West and Central Africa.

He assured the NNPCL leadership that the state government is committed to making sure planned energy projects move forward without delay.

Mr Kida acknowledged the better security situation in Maiduguri. He noted that reconnaissance teams and families of personnel have returned to the state.

He confirmed NNPC’s commitment to being transparent, stating that the company declared over $5 billion in profit last year and operates as a commercial limited liability enterprise.

The NNPC started major drilling in Borno in May 2023 at the Wadi-B well in the Tuba community, Jere Local Government Area.