House of Representatives is to investigation the circumstances that led to the non continuation of the Gombe-Bauchi oil exploration activities by the contractors handling the project.
The decision is sequel to a motion by a member from Gombe State Alhaji Inuwa Garba, deliberated by the house during plenary session.
Alhaji Inuwa Garba explained that the project, which was inaugurated by former President Muhammadu Buhari, is facing a serious decline under unexplained circumstances.
This has created apprehension and disappointment in the polity, especially given the current oil and gas market realities.
He said the Kolmani Integrated Development Project had discovered about 1 billion barrels of crude oil and 500 billion cubic feet of Gas in the licensed area categorized as Oil Prospecting Lease (OPL) 810 and 809.
The lawmaker also noted that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited attracted over 3 billion dollars in investment, including a petrochemical refining site, an oil refinery with a capacity of 120,000 barrels per day, a gas processing site of about 500 million cubic feet per day, a fertilizer plant, and a 300 MW power plant.
Alhaji Inuwa Garba, however confirmed that when completed the project was expected to afford the country with the opportunity of re-drawing hydrocarbon map and exit from speculative optimism to crystallized definitive prospects in the oil and Gas sector.
Mover of the motion who was excited over the discovery of oil in Gombe and Bauchi States, northern part of Nigeria urged the federal government to re-strategize and expand oil and Gas exploration to Anambra, Benue and Bida Basins for additional volume of crude oil, foreign exchange, employment and development.
He expressed that the lack of a periodic progress report on the lucrative project had led to speculation and despair due to the expectations of wealth creation, employment, and significant development to people in the region and the nation as a whole.
While adopting the motion, the house mandated its Committees on Petroleum Resources (Downstream, Upstream and Midstream), Gas Resources, and North–East Development Commission to investigate the matter and report back to the house in weeks for further legislative action.
COV : TSIBIRI
