Kolmani Oilfield Host Community Faults FG Over Election-Season Promises

 

By Abel Chigozie 

The host community of the Kolmani Oilfield has expressed disappointment over what it described as repeated promises by the Federal Government concerning the development of the oil project, particularly during election periods.

The community reportedly questioned the slow pace of activities at the Kolmani Integrated Oil Development project, which straddles Bauchi and Gombe states, despite assurances that the discovery of oil in the area would bring economic transformation and development to the region.

The Kolmani field, located around Barambu in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State, has been described as a major oil prospect in Nigeria’s North-East. The project was inaugurated in 2022 by former President Muhammadu Buhari amid expectations that commercial oil production would commence and stimulate economic activities in the region.

However, concerns have continued over the pace of exploration and development. Officials from Bauchi and Gombe states have previously expressed dissatisfaction with delays at the project site, urging the operators to accelerate work and provide stakeholders with a clear timeline for completion.

The host community said it was particularly concerned that promises surrounding the project often become prominent during political and election seasons, only for implementation to slow afterwards.

The community also called for greater transparency from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and other stakeholders involved in the project, stressing that residents deserve regular updates on the status of exploration and development activities.

The concerns come against the background of previous assurances by NNPCL that the Northern oil exploration programme had not been abandoned. The company had stated that exploration activities in the North remained ongoing and listed several projects at different locations as evidence of its continued commitment to unlocking hydrocarbon resources in Nigeria's inland basins.

Meanwhile, officials from Bauchi and Gombe states have urged stakeholders to work together to ensure that the Kolmani project is completed, stressing its potential to boost government revenue, create employment and improve the socio-economic conditions of communities in the region.

The host community consequently appealed to the Federal Government to move beyond promises and ensure that tangible development takes place at the oilfield, insisting that residents should not continue to wait indefinitely for the benefits promised from the discovery of oil in their area.