The Federal Government of Nigeria has assured the Republic of Uganda of its support and assistance in developing the oil and gas sector of that country. 

Acting President Goodluck Jonathan gave the assurance when he received a special envoy from Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni, at the State House, Presidential Villa, Abuja . 

Jonathan congratulated the Ugandan Government for the significant discovery the country has made in oil. He also welcomed the position of the Ugandan Government to partner with Nigeria in the area of capacity building in the sector. 

The Acting President directed the envoy to liaise with the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to fine-tune the existing Memorandum of Understanding between both countries. 

The leader of the delegation and Ugandan Minister of State for Mineral Development, Hon. Peters Lokeris, said they were in Nigeria to follow up talks between both countries in the petroleum sector. 

He said with the significant discovery his country has made on oil, they are willing to partner with Nigeria in the areas of capacity building, training and other possible areas of cooperation. 

He noted that a significant number of Nigerian businessmen have visited their country and are willing to invest in their oil and gas sector. 

Meanwhile Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has described as a welcome development, the proposed investment of 20 Billion Dollars in the Nigerian oil and gas sector by the Total Exploration and Production (E&P) of France . He stated this when he received the Group President of Total E&P France, Mr. Yves Louis Darricarrere, in the State House today, Dr. Jonathan said the proposed investment is an affirmation of positive business environment in the Niger Delta brought about by the amnesty programme. 

The Acting President acknowledged the efforts of the company so far on the Brass LNG project, but raised concern on the non-availability of gas for power generation. 

Earlier, Darricarrere commended the Federal Government for the amnesty programme noting that his Group will take the advantage of the relative peace in the region to increase its investments in the oil and Gas sector. 

He said they are ready to invest 20 billion Dollars on gas and deep water exploration just as they are committed to the Brass LNG project to see it to fruition.