Hope rises for oil discovery in Benue Trough

By Taye Obateru

Jos—Hope is rising on the possibility of discovering oil and gas in the Benue Trough as experts researching into it say the prospects are high.

Occupier of the Petroleum Development Fund (PTDF) Chair at the University of Jos, Prof. Agbaji  Emmanuel  Ogezi and speaker at the PTDF-TKSP (Technology Knowledge Sharing Programme) Open Seminar, Prof. C.S. Nwajide, both gave the indication in separate speeches at the seminar.

According to Ogezi, “The geology and geological history of the Benue Trough as well as preliminary results on eight known oil well drilling sites of the 1950s, 1960s and the 1999-2000 period indicate there are reasonable prospects for finding some oil and gas in parts of the Benue Trough.”

He added, however, that the prospect can only be accurately evaluated “after detailed and carefully integrated and well-funded multi-disciplinary study.