- Federal Government begins fresh efforts to restart exploration at the stalled Kolmani Oil Field.
- RMAFC Chairman Muhammad Bello says President Tinubu is concerned about the project.
- Exploration activities at the site have reportedly been inactive since July 2025.
The Federal Government has commenced efforts to revive exploration activities at the stalled Kolmani Oil Field in Bauchi State, with the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) conducting a verification visit to the project site.
Eko Hot Blog reports that RMAFC Chairman, Muhammad Bello, disclosed this on Monday during the commission’s visit, saying the objective was to assess the current state of the project and push for the resumption of activities.
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Bello described the Kolmani project as important not only to Bauchi State and the North-East but also to Nigeria as a whole. He said the commission wanted to restore the momentum generated when the project commenced in 2023.
According to him, President Bola Tinubu is concerned about the project and has assured the governors of Bauchi and Gombe states that mobilisation would be provided to enable exploration to continue.
Bello said the commission would assess the project and submit its findings to the relevant authorities as part of efforts to facilitate its revival.
The RMAFC chairman said the commission would continue monitoring the development through its oil and gas committees, stressing the importance of ensuring that the project progresses.
The renewed federal intervention comes after exploration activities at the site reportedly stopped in July 2025.
Bauchi State Commissioner for Natural Resources, Maiwada Bello, said the state government became aware of the stoppage after receiving information from members of the host community that the technical company working on the project was demobilising.
He explained that the state government subsequently formed a joint team with the local government and engaged the technical company to determine what had happened and explore ways of addressing the situation.
The commissioner said the latest verification visit by the RMAFC had renewed hopes that activities would resume at the oil field.
He added that the Bauchi State Government, under Governor Bala Mohammed, was prepared to provide the manpower and other support required to facilitate the project.
The federal commission also inspected the ongoing construction of the Bauchi Oil and Gas Academy during the visit.
Bello commended the state government for establishing the institution, noting that it could provide the skilled manpower required when oil and gas exploration becomes fully operational.
He also disclosed that part of the funds used in constructing the academy was provided by the RMAFC.
The Kolmani project has been viewed as a major opportunity for the development of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry in the North-East. Its revival could potentially generate economic activities, create employment and support the development of related infrastructure in the region.
The project gained national attention following the commencement of oil exploration activities in 2023, with expectations that commercial development could open a new chapter for the region’s economy.
However, the reported suspension of field activities raised concerns about the future of the project and the economic benefits expected by the host states.
The Federal Government’s latest intervention is therefore expected to determine what is required to get exploration activities back on track.
For now, the government’s efforts remain focused on assessment, mobilisation and engagement with relevant stakeholders, with authorities expected to take further steps after evaluating the condition of the stalled project.
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