The Northern Borno Youth Association urged the federal government of Nigeria to resume the exploration of crude oil in the northern part of the state bordering the shore of Lake Chad.

The Maiduguri-based group, under the aegis of Northern Borno Youth Frontiers Network, made the appeal.

Speaking to Radio Ndarason International today, the secretary of the association Alhaji Wakil Gadai said it was obvious how Boko Haram insurgents ravaged the ten northern Borno local government areas. “We are greatly affected by the activities of Boko Haram, majority of our people are farmers and fishers but all of them were displaced, taking refuge in Maiduguri, Niger, Chad and Cameroon without having access to their farmlands.” He added.

“Our youth are unemployed graduates, 75 per cent of them are idle. And if you look at the members of the armed-groups almost all of them are youth, therefore the only solution is to explore oil and engage youth, because oil exploration can be a massive source of job to our youth.” Gadai, noted.

If recall, the Nigerian government had in July 2017 suspended the oil prospecting project in the northern part of Borno after members of Boko Haram attacked a team of geologists from University of Maiduguri, killed five and abducted six of them.

According to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) it has suspended oil exploration plan in the northern Borno indefinitely, until the Nigeria army assured them safety.

The call by the northern Borno youth was made two weeks after the Chadian government has plans to suspend an application for world heritage site status for Lake Chad to explore oil and mining opportunities in the region.