Bauchi Chamber Decries Delay In Lifting Kolmani Crude Oil

The president of the Bauchi State Chamber of Commerce, Mines, Industries and Agriculture (BACCIMA), Aminu Muhammad, has called for urgent action on Kolmani oil fields lying between Bauchi and Gombe boundaries.

LEADERSHIP reports that in December last year, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMFAC) decried poor progress on Kolmani oil field.

Similarly, Sterling Global, the oil firm FG engaged to continue developing Kolmani Oil Field, argued that efforts are being channelled to drilling two additional wells that would feed the already drilled PL809 and OPL810 before the lifting of crude oil from the site would commence.

The firm set March this year as timeline for the drilling to be completed.

Speaking during a press conference with reporters in Bauchi, Muhammad expressed dismay over the lack of visible progress in operationalising the oil resources discovered during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The oil discovery in Bauchi and Gombe States, hailed as a transformative milestone for the region’s energy and economic potential, remains dormant under the current administration.

“Why is the oil in the North being ignored?” Muhammad asked pointedly. “We demand full accountability and immediate steps to operationalise these resources for the benefit of the region and the nation at large.”

He lamented that while other regions have reaped substantial benefits from their natural resources, Northern Nigeria’s crude oil has yet to be tapped. The prolonged delay, according to him, denies the region the opportunity for economic growth and development.

The Kolmani oil fields, commissioned with much optimism, symbolise hope for reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imports and boosting local economies. However, the silence from the federal government on the matter has sparked frustration among stakeholders.

BACCIMA’s call underscores a growing sentiment in Northern Nigeria for equity in resource management and accountability from the government.