Lokpobiri Confirms Kogi As Oil-Producing State, Vows To Aid Production Efforts Under Gov. OdodoThe Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has assured Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo of the Federal Government’s full support to enhance oil production in the state. This commitment was made during a meeting on Wednesday.
Senator Lokpobiri emphasized that Kogi is already recognized as an oil-producing state and highlighted the importance of utilizing the Frontier Basin Fund to increase exploration efforts. He reaffirmed the government’s goal of achieving two million barrels per day by the end of the year, with plans to reach 2.5 million barrels per day in the following year.
“Kogi State is indeed an oil-producing state. The question of revenue generation depends on the quantity produced, but Kogi has joined the ranks of oil-producing states. Our focus now is to collaborate with the Kogi government to leverage the Frontier Exploration Fund for necessary seismic work and identify more oil fields in the region, enabling Kogi to significantly benefit from oil revenues,” he stated.
Lokpobiri pointed out that past exploration activities had stagnated, which contributed to stagnant reserves. However, he noted that investments are beginning to flow back into the sector thanks to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and the current administration’s policies.
Governor Ododo had earlier sought federal assistance to boost oil exploration in Kogi, aiming to harness the state’s natural resources for development. Commissioner of Finance and Economic Development, Asiwaju Asiru Idris, expressed concerns that the state had only received ₦7.8 million from the 13% Derivation Fund, highlighting disparities in revenue compared to oil-rich states in the South-South.
Idris acknowledged that while Kogi is classified as an oil-producing state, actual production has been hindered by insecurity. He emphasized that peace in the region is vital for attracting investment and that the state needs federal support to fully exploit its resources.
