The Senator representing Anambra Central senatorial zone, Senator Victor Umeh has assured that Anambra will soon join the league of oil producing states in the country with full entitlements.
The senator told DAILY POSTin an interview that the Senate committee on petroleum sector(upstream) was working to resolve the dispute between Anambra and her neighbours, Kogi and Enugu states, who were laying claims to oil deposit in the state.
He said, “It (boundary crisis) has come up at the national assembly once and was referred to the senate committee on petroleum sector(upstream), which I am also a member.
“We have looked at it, and very recently, the committee met. We have involved even the national boundaries commission, and by the time we settle all these, we will be able to achieve that status (oil producing state) completely.”
Umeh said the oil deposit in the Anambra basin was a reality, and no longer in doubt, and that for Anambra to be classified as an oil producing state, there is a production output to be met.
He stated that this would have been attained, but for the claims by the sister states which has bugged down production.
“Oil exploration has been going on there, and Anambra started with I think 80,000 barrels per day, and we should have advanced now, but the Kogi people are laying claims to the area, and also the Enugu state; the Uzo Uwani area.
“There is no argument if we have oil in the Aguleri area any longer, except that what is bugging it now is the disputes. Once all these are settled, Anambra will fully assume the status of oil producing state, with all the accruing benefits,” Umeh said.
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