3 years after, silence at Kolmani oil field

After about three years since the launch of the epic project, the Kolmani oil drilling, Weekend Trust took a trip to the site of the project. The Kolmani River field, located on the border between Bauchi and Gombe states within the Gongola Basin, represents perhaps the most strategically significant inland hydrocarbon prospect outside the Niger […]

After about three years since the launch of the epic project, the Kolmani oil drilling, Weekend Trust took a trip to the site of the project. The Kolmani River field, located on the border between Bauchi and Gombe states within the Gongola Basin, represents perhaps the most strategically significant inland hydrocarbon prospect outside the Niger Delta region.

On a sunny Saturday morning in January 2026, our team set out from the outskirts of Alkaleri in Bauchi State. The destination was Kolmani, the site of the first commercial oil discovery in Northern Nigeria. Although, the field is only 68 kilometers from Alkaleri, the journey took nearly an hour and a half due to the poor state of the road.

As we approached, we observed that the oil field appeared quiet, and movement was heavily restricted. Our mission was clear: to investigate the status of the Kolmani Integrated Development Project, flagged off on November 22, 2022, by the late former president, Muhammadu Buhari.

In past decades, multinational companies like Shell and Chevron explored the Kolmani axis within the Benue Trough. They eventually withdrew, reportedly due to poor preliminary results, technical challenges, high operating costs, and the logistical nightmare of transporting heavy equipment to a landlocked region, Weekend Trust gathered.

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However, in 2019, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) announced a breakthrough: the discovery of crude oil in commercial quantities. During the official flag-off, the late former President Buhari stated that the field holds an estimated one billion barrels of oil and 500 billion cubic feet of gas.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, then, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, was also present and pledged his commitment to the project. At campaign rallies and during a later visit to the Emir of Gombe, Dr. Abubakar Shehu Abubakar 111, Tinubu reiterated thus: “When we were coming this afternoon, we were looking at the array of land. He [Governor Inuwa Yahaya] asked me: ‘What about Kolmani? Are you going to continue where you and Buhari left?’ I said, yes. Inuwa, you can guarantee that. That will be the emphasis.”

Yet, years after the inauguration, the project remains clouded in uncertainty. And the situation appears to have worsened by the recent Executive Order 9.  There are concerns that stripping the NNPC Ltd of key revenue streams may undermine capital-intensive frontier exploration efforts, notably in the Lake Chad Basin and Kolmani River projects in northern Nigeria.

President Tinubu had on February 13, 2026, signed the Executive Order mandating the direct remittance of all oil and gas revenues into Nigeria’s Federation Account, effectively eliminating longstanding revenue retention mechanisms previously enshrined within the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.

Observers believe that though aimed to increase revenue for the government, the Order would constitute a drawback for exploration in the Northern Basins such as Chad, Sokoto, Benue, and Anambra.

Observers said the Order constitutes an albatross, adding that active exploration and geological programmes in the North are at risk of slowing down or stalling.

According to them, the policy will cause technical teams to do away with their equipment, thus making it more expensive to restart projects in the future. 

They expressed worry that the policy has brought about uncertainty, forcing international partners to re-evaluate their involvement in Northern Nigeria’s oil exploration.

They bemoaned that Northern states that had started planning for local economic development relating to oil exploration face a potential freeze on these prospects. 

Martin Onovo, a petroleum engineer, told Weekend Trust that the federal government was “mischievous and deceptive” over the removal of the 30% Frontier Exploration Fund (FEF).

According to him, Tinubu’s executive order directing the immediate remittance of oil revenues to the Federation Account and removes the 30% Frontier Exploration Fund (FEF) retention by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) shows lack of quality governance.

He said apart from starving the northern exploration basins, the Order constitutes avenue for job cuts and a reduction in the country’s general exploration efforts.

According to him, it was a misnomer for the president to override the Petroleum Industry Act with the executive order to remove the  30% Frontier Exploration Fund (FEF).

 

An insider speaks

Upon arrival, our team observed security operatives guarding the perimeter, but the oil rigs and critical technical staff were nowhere to be found. From a distance, a broken zinc sheet rattled on the roof of a storehouse meant for drilling pipes.

A worker at the site, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that professional explorers had exited the location, citing a possible dispute between contractors and the federal government.

“The contractors were meant to spend four years in the field, but they exited in less than a year,” the worker said. “We are convinced they had a problem with the government because they didn’t even reach the one-year mark of their timeline.”

The stoppage has had a devastating human cost, Weekend Trust gathered.  “Some staff were taken off the payroll once the work stopped. The pause has plunged people into bankruptcy. Their plight resembles that of a wealthy man who suddenly goes broke. We are trapped in a dilemma,” the worker lamented.

Despite the halt, the insider confirmed that the technical potential is real: “There was a breakthrough. Oil wells were dug, and samples were exported for evaluation in the global market and the United States. It was certified and rated as good. We just need the government to return to the site.”

The project was designed to be a massive economic engine, featuring a 120,000-barrel-per-day refinery, a gas processing plant, a fertilizer plant, and a 300-megawatt power plant. For the people of Gombe and Bauchi, this represented a lifeline.

Musa Abubakar, a youth leader in Sabon Kaura, however, raised allegations of exclusion. “We have many demands. We need employment for our people. Even as cleaners or labourers, our youths with diplomas are being ignored. We feel betrayed.”

Muhammadu Ahmadu, an elder in the area, recalled watching the rigs being hauled away. “We witnessed the heavy trucks transporting the machines out of the field. Our demand is for the work to resume.”

Isa Ibrahim, a community leader in Salihawa, a village nestled within the Kolmani axis, urged the government to see the project through to completion.

“The discovery of oil brought such happiness,” Ibrahim said. “With financial freedom, the North will finally be developed. We want this exploration completed. More than anything, I want to see our youths employed.”

However, that hope is increasingly overshadowed by frustration. Muhammadu Sadi, another resident of the host community, spoke about the high unemployment rate and the perceived neglect of local talent.

“I feel nothing but sadness,” Sadi lamented. “We thought this discovery was our ticket to progress, but it has been one setback after another. Not a single person from our village was hired. We were given the impression that our people would be engaged, instead, they brought in outsiders. None of my friends or relatives secured a job before the work ground to a halt.”

 

Political and bureaucratic ‘red tape’

The project is a partnership between NNPCL (51% equity), the New Nigeria Development Company (49%), Africa Oilfield Movers Limited, and Sterling Global Oil.

Oil Prospecting Licences for Kolmani (OPL 809 and 810) were issued in 2006, according to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.

 The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources announced in May 2025, that President Tinubu had approved all “critical regulatory licences” for the project. It remains unclear whether this move reinforces previous agreements or restructures them entirely. This ambiguity, coupled with ongoing project delays, has sparked criticism from regional stakeholders, including Dr. Ahmad Gana, a former Commissioner of Health in Gombe State.

Dr. Gana expressed his frustration, dismissing the explanation that workers and equipment were moved following the completion of their assignments.

“It is deeply disappointing that this project has been abandoned. Much like the Mambilla power project, which exists only on paper, Kolmani is becoming another broken promise. You don’t evacuate an entire site if you intend a seamless transfer of staff. What are they going to use to continue the work?”

Dr. Ladan Salihu, former Director-General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), questioned if the project had become mired in “red tape.” He urged the government to conduct a SWOT analysis and engage local stakeholders to break the current deadlock.

“We are appealing to the government and the NNPC Limited to fast-track the drilling so that our people can feel the economic benefits.

“They must engage every stakeholder in the chain to analyse the strengths, weaknesses, and challenges slowing this project. I remain convinced that what the late President Muhammadu Buhari started in 2022 will, insha’Allah, come to fruition,” he said.

The sluggish development of the Kolmani oil field has reignited allegations of regional bias. Some analysts argue that these disparities are rooted in the early history of Nigeria’s petroleum industry.

Nigeria possesses seven primary sedimentary basins, but their development remains starkly uneven. The three in the South — the Niger Delta, Anambra Basin and Dahomey Basin — are actively producing, while the four in the North — the Benue Trough, where Kolmani is located, Bida Basin, Chad Basin and Sokoto Basin — remain largely dormant.

This development continues to fuel debate regarding political will and federal commitment.

Engineer Yabagi Sani, a retired senior officer of the NNPC, who once led a monitoring forum for the Bida Basin, provides historical context. “Exploration in the North started at the same time as the Niger Delta,” Sani notes. “The shift in attention to the South occurred simply because it was considered easier to execute.”

Despite the technical hurdles of drilling in the North, Sani believes stronger commitment could have fast-tracked progress, noting that five years is typically ample time to complete an oil well. He places the blame squarely on a lack of local accountability.

“We do not hold our leaders to account, especially in the North,” Sani argues. “Who is questioning the budget? Who is asking how much is being allocated to develop Kolmani, the Sokoto Basin, or the Benue Trough? The failure lies with our own people in power.”

To break the cycle of failure, Sani advised the government to adopt a “sweet and sour” investment policy used in other nations.

“Governments elsewhere use this to manage investors,” he explained. “You tell a company, ‘I will give you a license for a lucrative field in the Niger Delta (the sweet), but in exchange, you must commit to exploring and developing a set number of wells in the North (the sour).’ This ensures equitable development across the country.”

He also criticised Northern governors for focusing on regional airlines instead of investing directly in Kolmani. “The government has no business in airlines. They should have put down billions of Naira so that investors would see the commitment to making Kolmani productive.”

 

Kidnappings shadow oil discovery

While the machines at Kolmani have fallen silent, the surrounding communities are facing a noisy and terrifying new reality: a surge in kidnappings. This year alone, several residents have been displaced as bandits move into the vacuum left by the project’s slow pace.

Opinions are divided on whether the oil discovery itself attracted the criminals. An anonymous worker at the site noted the sudden shift in safety:

“Last week, we lost three to five people. This is strange; it never happened before. While these attacks might not be targeting the oil field directly, we fear the insecurity will eventually swallow everything. They are targeting wealthy residents and demanding massive ransoms,” he said.

In Sabon Kaura, the desperation is palpable. “The security operatives are trying, but the kidnappers are powerful and well-armed,” said Muhammad Sarkin Yamma. “They barge into homes; if you resist, they shoot.”

Another resident, Madugu Hassan, pointed to piles of luggage belonging to families who have already fled. “We change where we sleep every night. We’ve heard of ransoms ranging from N10 million to N30 million. Sometimes, they kill the victim even after the money is paid.”

As the Kolmani project stalls, the Northeast Governors’ Forum recently shifted its focus, unveiling plans for a regional airline. This move has drawn sharp criticism from those who believe the region’s natural resources should take precedence.

 

Oil and gas expert, Engineer Yabagi Sani, did not hold back

“The government has no business running airlines. They should focus on gigantic macroeconomic projects—like Kolmani—that create a multiplier effect for other businesses. It feels like laziness, looking for ‘easy’ money. The governors should be putting down billions to ensure Kolmani becomes productive, not buying planes.”

Based on evidence gathered during this investigation, three facts are undeniable:

Zero activity: No active drilling is ongoing at the Kolmani oil field.

Missing equipment: The heavy oil rigs have been completely demobilised and removed from the site.

Absent workforce: Key operational and technical workers are no longer present.

Seeking clarity, Weekend Trust reached out to both state and federal authorities:

Gombe State: The Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Sanusi Ahmed Pindiga, said via text that “efforts are underway” and a consultant would eventually brief the media.

Bauchi State: The Commissioner of Natural Resources Development, Muhammad Maiwada, did not respond to multiple calls or interview requests.

For NNPC Limited: Weekend Trust submitted a formal Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the NNPCL’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari in Abuja. As of the time of this report, the NNPCL had not responded to the FOI or subsequent messages sent to their Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh.

However, a staff of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), who wishes to remain anonymous as he is not authorised to speak to the press, said the delay in operations of the Kolmani oil field is due to lack of investors to take over from where the federal government stopped.

The source stated that without a private company taking the reins from where the government stopped in the discovery of crude oil in commercial quantities, “there is nothing the government can do”.

“Most investors are worried about the logistics aspect of the field because you need a pipeline to transport the cure to a refinery or export terminal in the case of transportation. When you look at the distance of the field and where it can be utilised, it will take billions of dollars to construct infrastructure that will facilitate achieving this”.

Kolmani was heralded as a historic breakthrough—the dawn of Northern Nigeria’s oil era. Today, the site is a graveyard of high expectations. The licenses exist and the promises were made, but the rigs are gone.

The question begging for answer is; When will Kolmani move from political ceremony to actual commercial production? For now, the silence at the site speaks louder than any official statement.