In a significant development for Nigeria’s energy sector, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has announced that it will resume crude oil drilling in the Kolmani field, straddling the border of Bauchi and Gombe states.
The announcement, made by NNPC’s Group Chief Executive, Bayo Ojulari, during an interview with BBC News Hausa on Monday, marks a renewed push to harness the hydrocarbon potential of northern Nigeria, more than two years after former President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated the project in 2022.
Ojulari’s statement comes with assurances of economic benefits for the region and the nation, alongside updates on other critical energy projects and efforts to resolve tensions with the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
The Kolmani oil field, located in the Upper Benue Trough of the Gongola Basin, has been a focal point of Nigeria’s quest to diversify its oil production beyond the Niger Delta.
In 2019, NNPC announced the discovery of significant hydrocarbon deposits in the Kolmani River II Well, estimating reserves of over one billion barrels of oil and 500 billion cubic feet of gas.
The 2022 launch of commercial drilling was heralded as a game-changer, with the government projecting $3 billion in foreign investment and job creation for local communities. However, progress stalled, leaving residents and stakeholders awaiting tangible outcomes.
Ojulari’s announcement signals a renewed commitment to the project. Urging patience from northern communities, he emphasized that the resumed drilling, set to continue next month, will deliver “positive impacts” for Nigerians.
The Kolmani field is expected to bolster Nigeria’s oil output, attract further investment, and stimulate economic activity in a region that has historically lagged behind in industrial development.
Beyond Kolmani, Ojulari highlighted the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline as a cornerstone of NNPC’s agenda. The 614-kilometer pipeline, designed to transport natural gas from the Niger Delta to northern Nigeria, is poised to drive industrialization by powering gas-based industries and electricity generation.
Ojulari confirmed that work on the AKK pipeline will also resume next month, with existing contractors continuing their efforts and new players potentially joining the project.
The revival of these projects is expected to have a multiplier effect on the northern economy. Ojulari noted that the initiatives will enable shuttered companies to reopen and spur the establishment of new businesses, creating jobs and increasing regional wealth.
This will bring benefits to the region, which will lead to everyone benefiting because wealth will increase, he said, underscoring the transformative potential of these energy developments.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
The resumption of drilling in Kolmani and the advancement of the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano pipeline represent critical steps toward unlocking northern Nigeria’s economic potential. For a region grappling with poverty, unemployment, and security challenges, the promise of job creation and industrial growth is a beacon of hope.
ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM VERILY NEWS
