Kolmani Oilfield: Time to explore natural resources is now- Gov Yahaya
Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, says there is need to extract the discovered oil and gas in the Kolmani oilfield especially with the signing of the Petroleum Industry Act and the clamour by some states to collect and retain the Value Added Tax, VAT.
Yahaya stated this on Tuesday, during the signing of a Memorandum Of Understanding( MoU) between Gombe State Government and Rift Oil and Petroleum Company.
The MOU is on exploring maximum benefits from commercial discovery of hydrocarbon in Kolmani site and other energy sources.
The governor expressed bitterness when some states considered the North as parasite despite the abundant minerals in the region.
According to him, his administration has been taken deliberate steps to open the state for industrial advancement through collaboration with genuine investors aimed at harnessing the God-given endowments for the benefit of the people.
He explained that he had severally engaged with President Muhammadu Buhari on the need to put pressure on NNPC and other relevant agencies and organisations to expedite action, expressing confidence in the ability of Rift Oil and Petroleum Company to deliver on the terms, considering its track record in the Oil and Gas industry.
“There is lack of political will to explore the abundant mineral resources in the state for the benefit of the people on the part of previous administrations as responsible for the current economic predicament.
“The need for us to explore and get maximum benefit from our God-given natural endowments is imperative now having realised how much ground we have lost in that direction.”
Governor Yahaha further explained that benefits from such huge investment to the state and country cannot be quantified, citing the signing of MoU with NNPC on development of biofuels in the state, the 16.4 billion naira Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park and the proposal by Madugu cement to establish a cement factory in Kembu and Kwali if Akko and Yamaltu Deba LGAs as indication of Gombe State’s vision and readiness in investment drive.
Yahaya therefore appealed to the host communities of these Industries to cooperate and support government and the investors for their smooth take off and operations, adding that steps are being taken to avoid the negative experiences associated with oil and gas.
Earlier, the Executive Chairman of Rift Oil and Petroleum Company Limited, Engr. Rabiu Suleiman who briefed the Governor and made presentation on history and politics of oil exploration in the northern part of Nigeria.
Suleiman assured that the Hydrocarbon deposits discovered in the Kolmani site is of large commercial quantity.
He said, “Gombe state stands to benefit tremendously in terms of jobs and wealth creation as well as infrastructural development in addition to enhanced commercial activities.”
The chairman explained that the MOU signed and other engagements on the projects would fully capture the interest of the host communities and government to avoid the experience of the Niger Delta people.
