>
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is set to resume oil exploration activities in Nasarawa and Benue states.
Mazadu Bako, the General Manager, Frontier Exploration Services of NNPC, disclosed this on Monday in Lafia, during a courtesy visit to the Deputy Governor, Mr Silas Agara.
He said the killing of one of the NNPC personnel by suspected herdsmen in the wake of the recent attacks on farmers by herdsmen at the Benue/Nasarawa border, led to the temporary suspension of oil exploration activities in Keana Local Government Area and other parts of Benue Inland Basin.
According to him, NNPC has been mandated by the federal government to resume the activities in order to increase its oil output.
Mr. Bako said that adequate security arrangements had been made to protect the lives of the workers.
He called for the support of the government and people of Nasarawa State for NNPC to achieve purpose of the project.
Agara who received the NNPC team on behalf of Governor Umaru Al-Makura, expressed concerns over the killing of the NNPC staff and pledged the support of the state government to enable the corporation to succeed on their assignment.
The NNPC, through one pf its upstream subsidiaries, Integrated Data Services Limited, embarked on the search for oil in the Benue trough in 2017.