. Exploration work to commence by end of 2022
The Federal Government’s Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), Operator and Natural Oilfield Services Limited (NOSL) received a great boost on Friday,25th March 2022, with the recognition of its efforts in Oil and Gas exploration by His Excellency Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State in the Fields of OML 13, within Eastern Obolo, Onna and Mkpatim Enin LGAs in Akwa Ibom state. This Exploration has dawned a new sunshine in boosting the economy of the State as well as that of the Nation. It has opened a gateway of opportunities in the Oil and Gas Industry, to the local communities by significantly unlocking employment opportunities, Empowerment & Development projects and creating a great growth milestone for the state and a breakthrough for the LGAs. 
The State and its citizens are happy to partner a fast-moving company, that will bring employment opportunities and prosperity. 
With high sense of commitment exhibited by different stakeholders in the state, citing project of this magnitude in Eastern Obolo , Onna & Mktaim Enin, will surely bring the biggest success story  to Akwa Ibom people and West Africa as a whole.  
Speaking, the Group Managing Director,  on Friday, during an inspection of NPDC & NOSL Oil & Gas Exploration in OML-13 site, at Atabrikang Fields, Eastern Obolo Local Government Area, recommitted that OML 13 is determined to play its role in the Oil & Gas industry in Nigeria. He elaborated that the plans to optimise the by-products of Oil fields including Petrochemical, Fertilizers, Polymers plants in future.
He explained that in  long run, such endeavours will minimise the import dependency, saving forex exchange of the nation and increase earning by exporting the products to different parts of the world.
According to him , “This project will help in utilizing the resources of the country to bring maximum benefits for one and all. As a pioneer in the Oil business, NPDC is well saddled in the path to make it happen and working relentlessly with Technical & Administrative support of NOSL in one of its biggest onshore oil blocks (OML-13) in the state as well as the Nation. 
“On successful production of the Oil Block the energy requirement of the state will meet substantially and in creating more jobs for Akwa Ibomites.”

The Managing Director, NPDC, Ali Zarah, thanked Akwa Ibom State Government for a peaceful atmosphere to operate as a company and assured of bringing development to the community as well as mutual benefits for all.
In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer, NOSL, Mr. Mohit Barot, stated that the company has created over 1000 jobs for youths in the area, carried out numerous  corporate social responsibility initiatives in line with their community development plans to include road construction in the community, community halls, education support to students, ICT and on the job training to local community youths, empowerment of women and other life touching projects to improve the economic life of the host community.
He explained that NOSL is active in 18 locations and operational at Eastern Obolo, ONNA and Mkpat Enin local government areas.
“’I thank His Excellency, the State Government, all the stakeholders from the communities for providing this enabling environment which has brought us here today.  
‘’We are currently in the advanced stages of completing the onshore facilities for processing and storage of oil. We will have the first oil by end of  2022.
‘’We are here for the development and betterment of Akwa Ibomites but for these, we need a conducive environment that provides opportunity to succeed”’
Akwa Ibom state Governor , Mr . Udom Emmanuel after inspecting the project expressed satisfaction with the pace of work ongoing at the project site executed in partnership with Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation(NNPC) and Natural Oil field Service Limited (N