The renewed push to revive oil exploration in the North-East has opened a fresh economic conversation in the region, with Borno State Governor and Chairman of the North-East Governors’ Forum, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, calling for the resumption of exploration activities in the state’s oil fields.
Zulum made the call while commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the Federal Government’s renewed efforts to revive exploration at the Kolmani Oil Field in Bauchi State.
Speaking on Saturday at the 13th regular meeting of the North-East Governors’ Forum in Maiduguri, the governor said the development of the region’s oil resources could become an important pillar of its economic recovery.
The two-day meeting, which began on October 2 and ended on October 3, brought together representatives of the six North-East states to discuss regional security, economic development and cooperation.
Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, and Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, attended the meeting, while the governors of Bauchi and Yobe states were represented by their deputies.
Zulum described the renewed attention to Kolmani and oil exploration within the Lake Chad Basin as a development capable of creating new economic opportunities for communities across the region.
“We particularly welcome the renewed efforts towards reviving exploration activities at the Kolmani Oil Field in Bauchi State,” he said.
The governor said the significance of the Kolmani project extended beyond oil production, noting that renewed exploration could generate employment, stimulate infrastructure development and broaden the revenue base of governments and communities.
He urged the Federal Government to apply the same renewed commitment to Borno’s oil fields, particularly those located within the Lake Chad Basin.
For Borno, Zulum said, reviving oil exploration would have significance beyond revenue generation, as increased economic activity could complement ongoing efforts to restore stability and rebuild communities affected by years of insecurity.
The governor also linked the development of the region’s natural resources to the broader search for sustainable economic opportunities in the North-East, where governments are seeking to expand sources of employment, investment and public revenue.
His appeal comes as the North-East Governors’ Forum continues to position regional economic cooperation alongside security as a major component of its development agenda.
The forum’s latest meeting therefore placed renewed attention on the region’s largely untapped economic potential, with oil exploration emerging as one of the areas the governors want the Federal Government to prioritise.