Nigerian govt to revive Kolmani oil exploration in Bauchi — RMAFC

…Says Tinubu committed to remobilising project —

The Federal Government has begun moves to revive exploration activities at the stalled Kolmani Oil Field in Bauchi State, with the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, commencing an assessment of the project to determine the steps required for its remobilisation.

The RMAFC Chairman, Muhammad Bello, disclosed this on Monday during a verification visit to the oil field, saying the commission would assess the state of the project and advocate its continuation.

Mr Bello said the revival of exploration at Kolmani was important not only to Bauchi State and the North-East but to Nigeria’s wider economic interests.

“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,” he said.

The chairman said President Bola Tinubu remained interested in the project and had assured the governors of Bauchi and Gombe states that efforts would be made to remobilise exploration activities.

“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,” Mr Bello said.

The RMAFC chairman said the commission would submit its findings to the relevant authorities after assessing the project and continue to monitor developments through its oil and gas committee.

“We will go back after assessing what type of project this is and what is going on. We will continue to follow it because we operate by committees, and we will be looking at oil and gas,” he said.

The move to revive the project follows the suspension of exploration activities at the site, with the Bauchi State Government confirming that work stopped around July 2025.

The state Commissioner for Natural Resources, Maiwada Bello, said the government became aware of the suspension after receiving reports from the host community that the technical company handling the project was demobilising from the site.

“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.

“So we formed a kind of joint team between the state and the local government. We met with the technical company handling this project and discussed with them,” he said.

According to the commissioner, the RMAFC visit has renewed hopes that exploration activities could resume at the oil field.

He said the Bauchi State Government was prepared to provide the manpower and other support needed to facilitate the revival of the project.

“Bauchi State under the leadership of Governor Bala Mohammed is ever ready to provide every manpower needed to support the exploration,” he said.

The Kolmani project is regarded as a potentially significant development for the North-East, with its revival expected to create opportunities for employment, technical services and other economic activities if exploration establishes commercially viable petroleum reserves.

During the visit, Mr Bello also inspected the ongoing construction of the Bauchi Oil and Gas Academy and commended the state government for establishing an institution that could provide skilled manpower for the oil and gas industry.

He said the academy would be strategically positioned to supply trained personnel required to support the Kolmani project if exploration progresses to full operations.

Mr Bello also noted that RMAFC contributed part of the funds used in constructing the institution.

The commission said it would continue to engage relevant authorities and monitor developments as efforts to revive exploration at Kolmani progress.