Imo State now fourth largest oil producer in Nigeria
By Chuks Alloy, Owerri
Imo State is not the fourth largest oil producer in Nigeria. This came after the local authority retrieved oil wells formerly kept by the Government of Rivers State.
The Coordinator for Petroleum and Gas Matters to the Government of Imo State, Goodluck Opiah who spoke in Owerri said 22 oil wells were recovered from Rivers State. He listed the oil wells to be cited in Mgbede Field in Egbema, Ohaji in Egbema Local Government Area making it 43 the total of oil wells recovered from Rivers State.
Opiah said “The oil wells were hitherto ceded to Rivers State. The ugly situation affected the revenue base of the state as we were recorded as one of the lowest oil producing states in the country. But with the recovery of the 43 oil wells, the story has changed, as we have become the 4th largest oil producing state.”
With the recovery, Imo State is now trailing Rivers, Delta and Akwa Ibom, the leading oil producing states in the country.
Opiah said new oil wells will improve earnings and enable the State Government to deliver on promises.
