The government and people of Kogi State have been thrown into massive jubilation as the Nigerian Government credited the state account with its first 13% derivation, confirming its status as an oil-producer.
The State Governor, Yahaya Bello announced this at the State Executive Council Meeting in Lokoja, the State capital.
With this confirmation, Kogi has now become the first among 19 Northern states to be recognised as an oil-producing state.
The exploration of crude oil in Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi state which comes under the Anambra State Basin in geological terms started in 1952.
However, over the years, residents of both Kogi and Anambra states have had disputes over the oil wells in the area, resulting in communal clashes and loss of lives and property.
Governor Bello said President Buhari’s intervention to resolve the dispute between the communities of Odeke in Ibaji local government area of Kogi and Aguleri in Anambra State brought peace to the State.
The Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Onowu Muhammed commended his predecessor, Captain Idris Wada (rtd), for fighting the cause with passion and patriotism before handing over to Governor Bello in 2016.
Muhammed said the “fight for the state to attain this status had been an age-long battle for the people of Kogi State… the former governor, Captain Idris Wada stood his ground on behalf of the government that the available record shows that Kogi owns the oil wells and that his administration will not compromise what belongs to the state.
“Governor Bello took up this battle with sheer determination and commitment and got the state recognised as the first Northern Nigerian State as oil producing state today,” he said.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
