By Nna Anulumadu
The commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral resources Anambra state Hon Barr Anthony ikechukwu Ifeanya, on Wednesday posited that 13 oil block confirmed in Anambra state will generate jobs for Anambra youth who are seeking for employment when fully explored.
The commissioner who disclosed this while fielding questions from the press stated governor Chukwuma Soludo has already done great by creating ministry of petroleum and mineral resources to facilitate oil and mineral explorations in the state.
“As a new ministry, when we came on board in April 2022, we started with building the foundation for the new ministry and so far so good we have been able to float two special purpose companies for the two arms of the ministry petroleum, oil, gas, and mineral resources.
So, today we have Anambra state petroleum and energy resources limited as a special purpose company that will handle the oil and gas sector of Anambra state and we also have Anambra state solid minerals development company limited that will handle these solid minerals that will see to the mining and exploration of the solid mineral that we have in Anambra state
A part from oil, have kaoline at Ukpor. In Ozubulu we have lignite, and other solid mineral we have in Anambra state like coal. It is these companies that will go out and look for partnership because this ministry according to Mr. Governor’s manifestos supposed to generate wealth and create employment for the youth of Anambra state and we have a lot both in the oil , gas and solid mineral sector. The only thing that we need is how to unlock the hidden potential and how to tap into those solid minerals that is in Anambra state and for us to tap them we have to get those special purpose companies because as a ministry our duty is to play a supervising role.
Mr. Governor has just confirmed those companies by appointing a chairman for the Anambra state petroleum and mineral resources company by name Prof. Charles Oforegbu who is also the M.D of the solid minerals resources limited.
With him and the other members of the boards, we will move into the market both internationally and nationally for investors that will be interested in our kaoline, lignite or our coal.
When we start lifting those kaoline which is good for making ceramic even clement and pharmaceutical items, it will have a lot of value and with that, money will start coming in. Atleast we are proud for having those two companies and also in the area of maintaining peace and order atleast it was not as it were when we came in with the host community such as Ogbuaniocha ,Ogwuikpere in Ogbalu because now there is better understanding between the host communities and the oil companies. We have been able to sign M.O.U and peace is gradually being restored at the host communities.
Today, we have at about 13 oil blocks in Anambra and out of that, it is just about 4 that is functioning but the main one that we get our 13 percent is zipco the one at Ogbalu side and Sahara at Ihiala but they have not started very well.
Now we have the two companies ready and chairman have been appointed, we want to believe that this year we will change gear because we are done with the foundation of the ministry as a new ministry. When these two companies commence operation fully in partnership with serious investors, many jobs would be created for Anambra youth.
In essence, Mr. Governor has really done so well within the space of 20 months. He has done so much in oil sector and he has done what most governor couldn’t do in eight years . Every local government in Anambra is a construction site. There is no local government you will go into in Anambra and there won’t be anything going on there,” he disclosed.
