Tinubu Grants Licences For Oil Project In Northern Region

President Bola Tinubu has approved all key licences for the Kolmani Integrated Development Project, a multibillion-dollar oil exploration venture between Bauchi and Gombe states.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, announced this at the launch of the Bauchi Oil and Gas Academy’s permanent site in Alkaleri Local Government Area.

According to a statement by Lokpobiri’s Media Adviser, Nneamaka Okafor, the approvals aim to boost Nigeria’s oil production by activating all hydrocarbon platforms nationwide.

He said, “The imperative to activate all available oil platforms for increased production led President Bola Tinubu to grant approvals for the issuance of all critical regulatory licences for the Kolmani Integrated Development Projects.”

Lokpobiri emphasized the administration’s commitment to harnessing Nigeria’s energy resources to drive industrial growth, create jobs, and increase national revenue.

“Mr President is intentional about transforming our energy landscape into one that fuels industrial growth, creates jobs and enhances national revenue,” he stated.

He praised Bauchi State for supporting the Federal Government’s energy goals, highlighting that the new oil and gas academy shows the state’s dedication to developing local expertise in the sector.

“With this academy, Bauchi is making a strategic contribution to the development of the human capital needed to drive our sector forward,” he added.

The minister stressed the need to develop local capacity for managing Nigeria’s vast fossil fuel reserves and praised the Petroleum Technology Development Fund for its role in training skilled manpower.

“PTDF has played a critical role in ensuring that our sector is not just productive but also future-ready,” Lokpobiri noted, expressing optimism that the new institution would forge a strong partnership with the PTDF.

Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, thanked the Federal Government for its support and reaffirmed the state’s dedication to ensuring the success of the oil and gas academy.

“This institution will serve as a foundation for skill acquisition and innovation that will benefit not just Bauchi State but the entire nation,” the governor said.

The Kolmani Integrated Development Project, inaugurated in November 2022, marks the start of oil exploration in Northern Nigeria, located in the Kolmani River II oil field on the Bauchi-Gombe border.

Last week, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) Group CEO Bayo Ojulari announced plans to resume drilling in the field. He emphasized that reopening and continuing these projects will revive closed companies, create new opportunities, and boost regional wealth, benefiting everyone involved.

“We will continue with the oil drilling in Kolmani and other places. After the oil drilling, we will also ensure that we complete the gas pipeline from Ajaokuta to Kano,” Ojulari said.