The strength of any nation lies on its effort in harnessing its potentials and natural resources stucked in their territories. The result of doing that is to make idle youth become gainfully employed and boost the economy thereby providing more amenities to the people. Bauchi State is blessed beyond limit with abundant crude oil in many locations, one of the discovered sites was in Kolmani river in Alkaleri Local Government Area of the State.
In 2022, many could recall that the administration of former Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari in partnership with New Nigeria Development Company started drilling crude oil at the two oil blocks in Kolmani river. The projection of crude oil deposit in Kolmani which traversed both Bauchi and Gombe States, it was pegged at about one billion barrels of crude oil deposit and about 500 billion cubic feet of gas. The production will continue until the field reaches its economic limit in 2060.
It was however observed with concern that the drilling on the site was suspended since the current Presidential inauguration and nothing tangible has been done. Since last year, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has moved most of the drilling equipments to Nasarawa State and Lake Chad leaving Kolmani with virtually nothing and up to now there is no explanation from the Federal Government on the rationales behind the abandonment of Kolmani exploration.
It is unfortunate that good expectations of the people regarding the project is gradually becoming blurry. The joy that flooded the hearts of most residents in the areas of wealth creation, employment opportunities and development in all sectors are turning to fairytales.The Bauchi State Government under the distinguish leadership of Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed (Ƙauran Bauchi) has provided enabling environment needed for full scale oil exploration while putting all items necessary to make the work successful.
Moreover, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) attracted over $3 billion investment to the area, including a petrochemical refining site, an oil refinery of 120,000 bpd, a gas processing site of about 500 million cubic feet per day, a fertilizer plant and a 300 MW power plant. Aside from the financial prospect, the field has the potential to redraw the hydrocarbon map of the country and provide employment opportunities to Nigerians.
In summary, the motion submitted by Rt. Hon. Dr. Abubakar Y Suleiman seeking to resume exploration at the Kolmani site will reinvigorate the lost hope of the people from both Bauchi and Gombe as oil producing States. The motion finally called on the Governors of Bauchi and Gombe as matter of urgency to collaborate with key stakeholders at the Federal Government level to resume crude oil exploration in Kolmani. It also suggested that both Bauchi and Gombe Houses of Assembly need to constitute a joint Committee to visit the Minister of Petroleum Resources, NNPCL and NNDC with a view finding out why the activities have stopped on the site and request for immediate resumption of activities.
Mukhtar Garba Kobi
Ag. Spokesperson to the Speaker,
Bauchi State House of Assembly
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