The Federal Government has expressed its readiness to support efforts to restart exploration activities at the Kolmani Oil Field in Bauchi State.
Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Muhammad Bello, disclosed this on Monday during a verification visit to the oil field.
Bello said the visit was aimed at assessing the current condition of the project and determining how the commission could support efforts to ensure its continuation.
He described the Kolmani project as strategically important to Bauchi State, the North-East and Nigeria as a whole, noting that its successful development could provide significant economic opportunities for the region.
“We want the momentum of the project that was started in 2023 to return. We want to come and verify for ourselves what is going on so that we can advocate for this project, this important project, to continue, so that the people of the North-East of Nigeria can further benefit,” Bello said.
The RMAFC chairman added that President Bola Tinubu remained interested in the project and had assured the governors of Bauchi and Gombe states that efforts would be made to remobilise activities at the site.
According to him, the commission would complete its assessment and submit its findings to the appropriate authorities while continuing to monitor developments in the oil and gas sector.
“We will go back after assessing what type of project this is and what is going on. We will continue to follow it because we operate by committees, and we will be looking at oil and gas,” he added.
During the visit, Bello also inspected the ongoing construction of the Bauchi Oil and Gas Academy, where he commended the state government for establishing an institution capable of producing skilled manpower for the oil and gas industry.
He noted that the RMAFC had contributed part of the funding used to develop the academy.
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Meanwhile, Bauchi State Commissioner for Natural Resources, Maiwada Bello, disclosed that exploration activities at the Kolmani site had been halted since July 2025.
The commissioner said the state government became aware of the development after receiving reports from the host community that the technical company handling the project was demobilising from the site.
He explained that the state government subsequently formed a joint team with the local government and engaged the company to establish the reasons behind the stoppage.
Maiwada said Monday’s visit by the RMAFC had renewed optimism that exploration activities would soon resume.
He assured that the Bauchi State Government, under Governor Bala Mohammed, was prepared to provide the necessary manpower and other support required to advance the project.
“Bauchi State under the leadership of Governor Bala Mohammed is ever ready to provide every manpower needed to support the exploration,” he said.
The proposed Kolmani oil development has been regarded as a major economic opportunity for the North-East, with stakeholders expecting its eventual operation to create jobs, attract investment and contribute to Nigeria’s energy and revenue base.