By Sule Aliyu Bauchi
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and Bauchi state governor Senator Bala Abdukadir Muhammad have officially performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the permanent site of the Bauchi Oil and Gas Academy in Alkaleri Local Government Area.
Just as the minister Lokpobiri revealed that the sum of N17 billion has been released to Bauchi State to develop its oil and gas exploration and capacity building efforts, praised Governor Bala Abdukadir Muhammad’s visionary leadership.
“I commend Governor Muhammad for being a visionary leader,” Lokpobiri said. “Because of the global campaign on energy transition, many think oil and gas will not remain the major source of energy globally, so there is limited investment. The truth is that oil and gas will remain the most dominant source of energy globally for the foreseeable future.”
The minister noted that President Bola Ahmad Tinubu’s energy security vision aligns with Muhammad’s, enabling the release of the N17 billion, previously withheld under the prior administration, to support projects like the Academy.
Minister Lokpobiri, accompanied by PTDF Executive Secretary Alhaji Galadima, emphasised PTDF’s role in building Nigerian capacity and infrastructure. “As a commitment to partnering with you, I came with the executive secretary of PTDF, Alhaji Galadima, because PTDF’s primary mandate is to continue to build the capacity of Nigerians on a continuous basis and also supports institutions with infrastructure,” he said.
Lokpobiri highlighted renewed federal commitment to the Kolmani basin, where the licence for the Kolmani oil block had expired. “I consulted with Mr President and he gave an immediate order for me to renew all the licences for the Kolmani project,” he revealed, crediting Bala Wunti, a Bauchi native and former team lead for the project. The Academy, he added, will train skilled labour to support Kolmani and the global oil and gas industries
The Minister on behalf of Federal Government pledged unwavering support for the development of the Kolmani Oil Field, expressing his desire to see Bauchi emerge as a key contributor to Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
He further assured that the Federal Government would continue to collaborate closely with the state to maximize the region’s resource potential.
Rimawaglobalnews reports that the occasion which took place Saturday, signifies the state’s ongoing efforts to build capacity and drive energy-focused development, particularly with the discovery of oil in Alkaleri LGA, Bauchi State.
Speaking governor Muhammad while presenting his address at the ceremony, pointed out that the academy was intended to prepare the state’s youth for opportunities and challenges in the evolving energy sector for their purposeful future.
According to him, the idea behind the establishment of the Bauchi Oil and Gas Academy was conceived shortly after oil was discovered in Kolmani, with the goal of providing critical training and skill development for youths across the region.
Governor Bala expressed deep appreciation to former President of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari for his crucial role in actualizing the Kolmani Oil Project, discrebing it a historic breakthrough for Bauchi State and Nigeria.
The Governor thanked the Minister and the Federal Government for continued partnership and support, highlighting the importance of collaboration in driving development.
