Lawmakers to Buhari: Declare Kogi oil producing state now

LOKOJA—Kogi State House of Assembly has called on the Federal Government to accord the state its rightful status as an oil-producing one, following the exploration of oil in Echeno and Udeke, all in Ibaji Local Government Area of the state.

The call followed the adoption of John Abah’s (Ibaji constituency) motion appealing to the Kogi State government to expedite action in ensuring the declaration of the state by the Federal Government as an oil-producing one.

The motion read in part: “Late Prince Audu Abubakar, the former governor of Kogi State, on July 18, 2001, conveyed a letter to the Group Managing Director of NNPC, notifying the corporation of discovery of crude oil in Ibaji Local Government Area.

“He also requested NNPC to carry out a thorough investigation to determine the extent of the deposit. Even though the preliminary investigation carried out by NNPC was not published, it is no longer in doubt that there is oil deposit in Ibaji Local Government Area. “Orient Petroleum Resources Limited even made three offers to Kogi State government.”