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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Energy & Infrastructure

FG moves to revive stalled Kolmani oil exploration

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • The Federal Government pledged to facilitate the resumption of exploration activities at the stalled Kolmani Oil Field in Bauchi State.
  • The Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission visited the site to assess its status and advocate for its continuation.
  • Exploration activities at the field have been halted since July 2025, raising concerns about the project's future.

The Federal Government is set to revive exploration activities at the Kolmani Oil Field in Bauchi State, which have been stalled since July 2025. Muhammad Bello, Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), visited the site to assess the project's current state and advocate for its resumption, emphasizing its importance to Bauchi State, the North-East, and Nigeria as a whole.

We want the momentum of the project that was started in 2023 to return. We want to come and verify for ourselves what is going on so that we can advocate for this project, this important project, to continue, so that the people of the North-East of Nigeria can further benefit.

— Muhammad BelloExplaining the purpose of the RMAFC's visit to the Kolmani Oil Field.

Bello stated that the commission's visit aimed to ensure the momentum of the project, initiated in 2023, returns. He assured that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is deeply concerned about the project and has promised the state governors that mobilization for its continuation will occur. The RMAFC will report its findings to relevant authorities to support the revival efforts.

We know for a fact that Mr President is very much concerned as far as this project is concerned. We know that he has assured the two governors that there will be mobilisation for the project to continue.

— Muhammad BelloHighlighting presidential commitment to the project's continuation.

Bauchi State's Commissioner for Natural Resources, Maiwada Bello, confirmed that exploration ceased around July 2025. The state government had engaged the technical company involved after receiving reports of demobilization. He expressed hope that the RMAFC's visit would spur the resumption of activities, noting that the state government remains prepared to provide necessary manpower and support.

When we came here, actually there was no activity. Shortly after you left, between January 2025 and somewhere around June 2025, July 2025, we received news from the host community that the company operating in this area was demobilising.

— Maiwada BelloDescribing the cessation of activities at the oil field.

During his visit, Bello also commended the Bauchi State Government for establishing the Bauchi Oil and Gas Academy, which will supply the required manpower once exploration is fully operational. He noted that the commission had contributed funds to the institution's construction. The project's revival is seen as crucial for the economic benefit of the North-East region.

Bauchi State under the leadership of Governor Bala Mohammed is ever ready

— Maiwada BelloStating the state government's readiness to support the project.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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