Fear of Restructuring caused rush search for Oil in the North – Ekweremadu

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Senator Ike Ekweremadu has said that the persistent call for the restructuring of Nigeria has prompted the search for oil in the Lake Chad, Sokoto and River Benue basins. The Punch reports that the deputy Senate president made this remark while presenting a paper titled ‘restructuring and the Nigerian youth’ at the third edition of the Adada Lecture Series, organised by the Association of Nsukka Professors, at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

According to Ekweremadu, oil revenue will soon go down due to the coming of electric cars and said contrary to the fear being peddled; restructuring will be in Nigeria’s best interest. He said: “Some are afraid of survival under fiscal federalism. They feel they are better off with free monies from Abuja, which could actually be a pittance compared to what they could generate if they begin to access the bountiful wealth buried in their soils. “I have also noticed a desperate search for oil in the Lake Chad, Sokoto, and Benue River basins in recent times, obviously spurred by the campaign for restructuring. “But it is an unfounded fear. The days of oil are numbered. It is the least strategic wealth we have now. Many countries have found oil in large quantities, including those that used to patronise us for oil. Importantly, many nations are already phasing out petrol and diesel engines.

“In July 2017, the United Kingdom announced plans to stop the production of petrol- and gas-powered cars from 2040. France has also unveiled plans to ban the sale of petrol and diesel cars from 2040. “Norway has strong policy actions to ensure that zero fossil fuel cars are sold in the country by 2025. With the second highest concentration of electric cars in Europe, Netherlands is already targeting an emission-free environment by 2030, which automatically rules out petrol- and diesel-powered cars.

“In fact, Netherlands wants at least 200,000 electric cars on her roads by the year 2020, which is only two years from now.” The Senate president insisted that the north will benefit more if it embraces restructuring. Meanwhile, Shehu Sani, senator representing Kaduna central at the Senate said that those in power in northern Nigeria must see themselves as servants, not as masters or demi-gods, Cable news reports