A mammoth crowd of distinguished Nigerians have witnessed the Historic Presidential Flag off Ceremony of the Kolmani Integrated Development Project KIPRO of Oil Prospecting Licenses OPLS 809 and 810 at the Kolmani Field Site that straddles Bauchi and Gombe states.
It is expected that the first project would entail an Oil refinery of up to 120,000 barrels per day, Gas processing plant of up to 500 Million Standard Cubic per day, a Power Plant of up to 300 Megawatt Capacity and a Fertilizer plant of 2,500 tons per day.
Speaking at the Flag off Ceremony President Muhammad Buhari said the successful discovery of oil in the Kolmani Oil Field has broken the jinx of oil discovery in upper Benue Trougph apart from the Niger Delta.
Muhammada Buhari directed the NNPC to continue exploration in the North East region to fast track investments for economic prosperity in the region and the country at large.
In a speech, the Group Managing Director NNPC Mele Kyari who thanked the President for his doggedness amidst economic turmoil for ensuring the success of the flagging off of the oil rig said the region would open up socio-ecnomic development of the country.
The Governors of Bauchi Bala Muhammad and his counterpart of Gombe, Inuwa Mohammad Yahaya said the historic event would leave a land mark stressing that there would be no conflict between the two states.
They noted that agreement had been going on for collaboration for more discovery and exploration of more oil and gas resources for economic development, investments and trades for the two states.
Some governors from the North including the Emirs of the region, Ministers, APC Presidential Candidate Bola Tinubu, NNDC/NNPC Officials, Captain of industries, Security agents and other development partners among others graced the occasion.
Cov/Alhassan Usman, Bauchi