Kolmani: Reps To Investigate Abandoned Oil Exploration Activities In Gombe, Bauchi Axis
The House of Representatives has mandate its Committees on Petroleum Resources (Downstream, Upstream and Midstream), Gas Resources, to investigate the oil exploration activities of the Kolmani Integrated Development Project and report within four (4) weeks for further legislative action.
This followed the adoption of a motion by Rep. Inuwa Garba on Wednesday.
He lamented that, after the inauguration of the project, production activities have declined under unexplained circumstances.
He said, the situation has created apprehension and disappointment in the polity, especially in the face of current oil and gas market realities.
He noted that, the oil exploration in Kolmani Oil Field between Gombe and Bauchi States commenced in 2016 leading to the inauguration of Kolmani Integrated Development Project by former President Muhammadu Buhari in collaboration with President Ahmed Bola Tinubu in November 2022 after the discovery of about 1 billion barrels of crude oil and 500 billion cubic feet of gas in the licensed area categorized as Oil Prospecting Lease (OPL) 810 and 809.
He said, “The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) attracted over 3 billion dollars investment including Petro-chemical refining site, oil refinery of 120,000 bpd, a gas processing site of about 500 million cubic feet per day, a fertilizer plant and a 300mw power plant, in addition, it is expected to afford the country with the opportunity of re-drawing hydrocarbon map and exit from speculative optimism to crystallized definitive prospects in the oil and gas sector.
“The news of this discovery elicited excitement across Nigeria emanating from government’s charge to NNPCL to re-strategize and expand oil and gas exploration to Anambra, Benue and Bida Basins resulting benefits of additional volume of crude oil, foreign exchange, employment and development”.
Rep. Garba said, lack of a periodic progress report on such a lucrative project has led to speculation and despair due to the expectations of wealth creation, employment, and significant development.
He said that, there is the need to expedite action on the project considering its benefits to national development.
Contributing to the debate, Rep.Ahmed Idris Wase proposed an amendment to expunge the House Committee on Northeast Development Commission (NEDC) as well as that on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) from the investigation.
The motion was voted on, adopted as amended and referred to the House Committees on Petroleum Resources (Upstream and Midstream) as well as that on Gas Resources.
