President Muhammadu Buhari is leading northern stakeholders from various sectors of life to perform the flag-off of the Kolmani Integrated Development Project (KIPRO) on the boundary of Bauchi and Gombe States.
The ground-breaking ceremony of the Kolmani Oil Prospecting Lease (OPL) 809 and 810 at the Kolmani field site will be the first oil drilling in Northern Nigeria.
Oil was discovered in commercial volume in the region about two years ago.
While Nigeria is already exploring crude oil in the southern Niger Delta, this exploration up north will be the first after an attempt in the Borno region was halted by insecurity.
NNPC Limited, since 2016, launched a search in some Northern States, which led to the discovery of the oil in commercial quantity in Bauchi, Gombe, Borno and Niger States.
According to officials at NNPC Ltd, the oil field in Bauchi and Gombe axis will be developed by Sterling Global Oil, New Nigeria Development Commission (NNDC) and NNPC Limited.
Reports said the Kolmani fields hold over a billion crude oil reserve, which could significantly raise Nigeria’s oil reserve that has not grown in 10 years.
Among those in attendance are Senate President Ahmed Lawan; Governors Bala Mohammed (Bauchi); Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe); Simon Lalong (Plateau); Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi); Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa); Aminu Bello Tambuwal (Sokoto); Mai Mala Buni (Yobe); and the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Lawan.
Others are: Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Pantami; Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; Ministers of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva; Industry Trade and Investment, Hajia Maryam Katagum; and the Group CEO of the NNPC Limited, Dr Mele Kyari
Also seated to witness the history event were one-time Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babagana Kingibe; National Chairman of the APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu; Chairman of the NNPCL Board, Senator Margery Chuba Okadigbo; traditional rulers from different parts of the North and many other dignitaries.
Details Shortly…
