By Abdullahi Alhassan
Borno State Governor and Chairman of North-East Governors’ Forum, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for reviving oil exploration activities at the Kolmani wells while urging that work on Borno State’s own oil fields be similarly revived.
Zulum made the commendation at the 13th regular meeting of North-East Governors’ Forum, held in Maiduguri, noted that the resumption of oil exploration in the northeast, particularly Kolmani and the Lake Chad basin, was a critical component of the region’s economic revival strategy.
He said, “Distinguished colleagues, I wish to begin by expressing our sincere appreciation to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the Federal Government’s continued commitment to the development of the North-East.”
“We particularly welcome the renewed efforts towards reviving exploration activities at the Kolmani Oil Field in Bauchi State. The revival of this important project represents more than an investment in the oil and gas sector.”
The Forum Chairman, however, urged that the momentum be extended to Borno State’s oil fields, stressing that reviving exploration activities there would complement military operations and accelerate development across the sub-region.
He emphasised that renewed federal support for oil exploration in Kolmani and Lake Chad would help diversify the region’s economy and create much-needed jobs.
Also speaking, Gombe State Governor, Mohammed Inuwa Yahaya, listed achievements since the forum’s creation, including establishing the North-East Education Council.
He said, “Our states are addressing the Almajiri and out-of-school children challenge through practical models, from Borno’s Tsangaya Commission to Taraba’s Almajiri Model Education Centres and our own Integrated Almajiri Education Centres in Gombe. Our Commissioners of Health also came together in 2024 to form a regional health platform to increase intra-regional responsiveness and share best practices.”
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