Minna –  Gov. Babangida Aliyu of  Niger on Saturday inaugurated a  committee on the development of  the Bida Basin  to ascertain the availability of  oil deposit in the basin.

The governor, who   inaugurated the committee  at Government House, Minna, said government was excited at the prospects of oil potentials in the Bida Basin.

“However, we are mindful of other implications of such a discovery, and the tendency for oil revenue to become a resource curse of Dutch disease rather than a blessing, if the situation is not well managed.

“That is the reason we have put together this committee of experienced people to comprehensively look at the prospects and implications of oil to  our socio-economic development.

“We need to go beyond looking at the environmental impact of oil discovery, to impact on the people’s socio-economic means, especially agriculture.

“We cannot afford to abandon agriculture and solid mineral resources for any reason, for there lay our comparative economic advantage as a state; to do so will be at a great risk and price,” he said.

The governor urged  the committee headed by retired Lt. Gen. Inuwa Wushishi  to ascertain whether  the basin’s  hydrocarbon deposits was  of commercial quantity and liaise with appropriate federal government agencies in ensuring adequate preparation for its exploration.

Aliyu urged the members  to recommend rules and  regulations that would  mitigate environmental pollution, conduct environmental impact assessment and social impact assessment.

He also told the committee members to  look for investors willing to set up a refinery and embark on exploration.

“ Our economic survival is hinged on the wise decisions we are able to make in the right direction,’’ he said.

In his response, Wushishi assured the governor that the committee  would do everything possible to ensure that it  succeeded  in view of  the importance attached the assignment.(NAN)