President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given the nod for the issuance of key regulatory licences necessary for the takeoff of the Kolmani Integrated Development Project — a multibillion-dollar oil exploration venture spanning Bauchi and Gombe states.
The announcement was made on Sunday during the flag-off ceremony for the construction of the permanent site of the Bauchi Oil and Gas Academy in Alkaleri Local Government Area.
The disclosure came via a statement from the Special Adviser on Media and Communication to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri.
“The activation of all national facilities designed to contribute to the transformation of our oil sector remains critical,” the statement read. “This informed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval for us to ensure that all outstanding critical regulatory licences for the Kolmani Integrated Development Project were issued.”
The Minister, speaking at the ground-breaking event, described the Kolmani project as central to the administration’s vision of repositioning Nigeria’s energy sector as a cornerstone for national development.
“With Bauchi State embracing this drive through the establishment of the Academy, the State is positioning itself as a strategic contributor to the human capital development required to power the sector forward,” Lokpobiri said, adding that the Federal Government, through the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), would continue investing in skill and technological advancement.
The Bauchi Oil and Gas Academy is expected to work closely with PTDF to deliver sustainable growth and expertise within the oil and gas industry.
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The Kolmani Integrated Development Project was initially launched in November 2022, marking a historic beginning for oil exploration in Nigeria’s northern region.
Located in the Kolmani River II oil field, which sits on the border between Bauchi and Gombe states, the project has been lauded as a milestone in diversifying the nation’s oil footprint.
Adding momentum to the initiative, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), Bayo Ojulari, last week confirmed that drilling operations at the site would resume shortly.
Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, also expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for its commitment to the project.
He described the academy as a “foundation for skill acquisition and innovation,” underscoring its potential to benefit not just the state, but the country at large.
As attention turns northward in Nigeria’s oil landscape, both the Kolmani Project and the Bauchi Oil and Gas Academy are poised to play defining roles in reshaping the nation’s energy and economic future.