Outrage in Northern Nigeria as NNPCL Halts Exploration, Pulls Out Equipment from Region’s Oil Fields

Northern Nigeria is experiencing growing anger and frustration over the recent suspension of oil exploration activities in key states, including Bauchi, Gombe, and Nasarawa. The most affected sites are the Kolmani oil field, straddling Bauchi and Gombe, and the Ebenyi-A Well in Nasarawa’s Obi local government area, where initial explorations had shown promising results.

Local stakeholders have expressed deep concerns over what they perceive as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s (NNPCL) dwindling interest in these projects. The NNPCL had made significant strides in the region, particularly at the Kolmani oil field, where crude oil and gas reserves were estimated at over a billion barrels and 500 billion cubic feet, respectively. However, recent reports indicate that equipment has been moved out of the sites, with some of it redirected to other regions like Nasarawa and Lake Chad.

The suspension has led to widespread dissatisfaction among local communities, especially as these oil fields were expected to generate substantial economic benefits, including an estimated $3 billion in investments and the creation of numerous jobs. The halt in operations has also raised fears that the federal government’s focus may have shifted back to the Niger Delta, at the expense of the northern region’s development.

In response to these concerns, NNPCL’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, denied the allegations, stating that the company remains committed to its exploration activities across Nigeria’s inland basins. He emphasized that NNPCL is actively working on several projects, including ongoing drilling in Borno State’s Chad Basin.

Despite these reassurances, local leaders and stakeholders are calling on northern governors to intervene and ensure that the exploration projects in the region continue. Nuhu Obaje, a key figure in the region’s oil exploration efforts, lamented the apparent abandonment of the Kolmani oil project, which had shown great potential since its discovery in 2018.

Obaje criticized the federal government’s perceived lack of political will to continue exploring inland basins outside the Niger Delta, pointing to the appointment of two petroleum ministers from the Niger Delta as a sign of the government’s shifting priorities. He urged a national approach that considers the enormous resources available in the Benue Trough and other inland basins.

In Bauchi, local community leaders and government officials have expressed their frustration with the slow progress of the Kolmani project. The Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Abubakar Sulaiman, called on northern governors to unite in pushing for the resumption of oil exploration in the region, highlighting the project’s potential to transform the local economy.

Meanwhile, in Niger State, the partnership between Ibrahim Babangida University (IBBU) and NNPCL to explore the Bida Basin appears to be faltering due to financial constraints and lack of progress. The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abu Kasim Adamu, described the slowdown in exploration as a major setback in Nigeria’s efforts to increase its oil reserves.

As the northern region grapples with the uncertainty surrounding these projects, stakeholders are urging the federal government and NNPCL to renew their commitment to oil exploration in the area, stressing that the potential benefits extend far beyond the region to the entire nation.