The Federal Government has begun moves to revive exploration activities at the stalled Kolmani Oil Field in Bauchi State, with the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) undertaking a verification visit to assess the project and support efforts to remobilise work.
The RMAFC Chairman, Muhammad Bello, disclosed this on Monday during the commission’s visit to the oil field, saying the project was important not only to Bauchi State and the North-East but to Nigeria’s wider economic interests.
Mr Bello said the commission was at the site to establish the current state of the project and advocate for the continuation of exploration activities.
“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,” he said.
He added that President Bola Tinubu remained concerned about the project and had assured the governors of Bauchi and Gombe states that efforts would be made to remobilise exploration activities.
“We know for a fact that Mr President is very much concerned as far as this project is concerned. We know that he has assured the two governors that there will be mobilisation for the project to continue,” Mr Bello said.
The RMAFC chairman said the commission would conduct an assessment of the project before reporting its findings to the relevant authorities.
“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 said.
The commission’s intervention is aimed at determining what is required to get exploration activities back on track after operations at the site were suspended.
Exploration stopped in 2025
The Bauchi State Commissioner for Natural Resources, Maiwada Bello, said exploration activities at the site stopped around July 2025.
According to the commissioner, the state government received information from the host community that the technical company handling the project was demobilising from the site.
“When we came here, actually there was no activity. Shortly after you left, between January 2025 and somewhere around June 2025, July 2025, we received news from the host community that the company operating in this area was demobilising,” he said.
He explained that the state subsequently formed a joint team with the local government and engaged the technical company to discuss the situation.
Bauchi pledges support for resumption
The commissioner said the RMAFC verification visit had raised hopes that activities would resume at the oil field.
He said the Bauchi State Government, under Governor Bala Mohammed, was prepared to provide the manpower and other support required to facilitate the exploration project.
“Bauchi State under the leadership of Governor Bala Mohammed is ever ready to provide every manpower needed to support the exploration,” Mr Bello said.
Bauchi Oil and Gas Academy inspected
During the visit, Mr Bello also inspected the ongoing construction of the Bauchi Oil and Gas Academy and commended the state government for establishing the institution.
He said the academy could provide the skilled manpower needed to support the oil project if exploration eventually progresses to full-scale operations.
The RMAFC chairman also noted that part of the funding for the academy was provided by the commission.
What Kolmani revival could mean for Nigerians
The revival of the Kolmani project could have implications beyond oil exploration. If commercially viable production is established, renewed activity could create jobs, increase demand for local services and technical manpower, and stimulate economic activity across Bauchi and the wider North-East.
For the Federal Government, successful development of the project could also expand Nigeria’s petroleum exploration base and potentially contribute to government revenues.
However, the immediate development is a commitment to assess and remobilise the stalled exploration project, rather than confirmation that commercial oil production has commenced.
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