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The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has drilled four oil wells in the Kolmani area of Bauchi State, as part of its renewed efforts to enhance oil and gas exploration in northern Nigeria.
This initiative represents a major advancement in tapping into the hydrocarbon potential of the region and occurs within the framework of broader national ambitions to improve energy security and infrastructure development.
Yusuf Usman, a Director at NNPCL, shared this information during a two-day interactive session on government-citizen engagement hosted by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation on Wednesday in Kaduna.
“So far, the NNPCL has drilled four wells in the Kolmani area of Bauchi State and is currently evaluating the appropriate technology to be deployed for the next phase of drilling operations.
“In support of President Bola Tinubu’s Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiative, five CNG and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plants are also under construction in Kogi State,” he said.
Usman said that the company is evaluating suitable technology for the next stage of drilling operations in Kolmani. He also emphasised NNPCL’s dedication to promoting oil and gas exploration throughout the northern region.
He added that these efforts aim to enhance energy access and supply in the North and are part of NNPCL’s contributions under the current administration to bolster Nigeria’s energy capacity and ensure balanced infrastructure development across different regions.
In May 2025, NNPCL announced its intention to recommence drilling activities at the Kolmani oil field, which spans the boundary between Bauchi and Gombe States. This location is part of the Kolmani Integrated Development Project, marking Nigeria’s first significant oil discovery in the North.
Ojulari pointed out that residents perceive this as a significant move towards becoming a key player in the country’s oil and gas industry, which southern states have historically dominated.
