By Seun Ibiyemi
The Federal Government has pledged to facilitate the remobilisation of exploration activities at the Kolmani Oil Field in Bauchi State, following concerns over the suspension of work at the project.
The Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Muhammad Bello, made the commitment on Monday during a verification visit to the oil field.
Bello said the commission visited the site to assess the current state of the project and advocate for the resumption of activities, describing the oil field as strategically important to Bauchi State, the North-East and Nigeria’s wider economy.
“We want the momentum of the project that was started in 2023 to return,” Bello said.
He explained that the commission would assess the project, determine the reasons behind the inactivity and report its findings to relevant authorities as part of efforts to facilitate its revival.
According to him, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is concerned about the project and has assured the governors of Bauchi and Gombe states of efforts to remobilise activities at the oil field.
“We know that he has assured the two governors that there will be mobilisation for the project to continue,” he said.
Bello added that RMAFC would continue to monitor developments at the oil field through its relevant committees, particularly those responsible for the oil and gas sector.
The chairman also inspected the ongoing construction of the Bauchi Oil and Gas Academy, commending the state government for developing institutions capable of providing skilled manpower for the petroleum industry.
He noted that part of the funding for the institution was provided by RMAFC, adding that the academy could play an important role in supplying the technical workforce required when exploration activities at Kolmani become fully operational.
Earlier, the Bauchi State Commissioner for Natural Resources, Maiwada Bello, disclosed that exploration activities at the oil field had stopped around July 2025.
The commissioner said the state government became concerned after receiving reports from the host community that the technical company handling the project was demobilising from the site.
He said the state government subsequently constituted a joint team with the local government to engage the company and establish the reasons for the suspension of activities.
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“When we came here, actually there was no activity,” Maiwada said, adding that the government had held discussions with the technical company after receiving reports of the demobilisation.
The commissioner expressed optimism that the RMAFC visit would help revive activities at the oil field.
He said the Bauchi State Government, under Governor Bala Mohammed, remained prepared to provide the manpower and other necessary support required to facilitate exploration.
“Bauchi State under the leadership of Governor Bala Mohammed is ever ready to provide every manpower needed to support the exploration,” he said.
The planned remobilisation could provide a fresh push for the development of the Kolmani oil project, with potential implications for energy supply, government revenue, employment and economic activity in the North-East.
