The Federal Government has disclosed that it has renewed its licence for the exploration of oil in the Kolmani area of Bauchi and Gombe States.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, stated this during the official groundbreaking ceremony of the construction of Bauchi Oil and Gas Academy’s permanent site, Alkaleri Local Government Area.
According to him, the federal government was looking forward to drilling more barrels of oil, hence the need for more commitment in drilling in the Bauchi site.
“Today, we are drilling about 100 million barrels and our target is to drill 2.5 million barrels before the year ends.
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“What we want to see is to ensure that the Kolmani region also contributes to our own barrels and that is why we are totally in support of what you are doing here today.
“When I became minister, my attention was drawn to the fact that the oil licence for the Kolmani had expired and so the company couldn’t do anything.
“I consulted Mr President and he gave an immediate order for me to renew all the licenses for the Kolmani project,” he said.
While commenting on the oil and gas academy, the Minister said that the establishment of the academy was timely.
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Lokpobiri expressed confidence adding that the institution would be significant in shaping the future of the Nigeria energy industry.
Earlier speaking, Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state acknowledged the support of the federal government in developing oil and gas manpower in the state.
While appreciating former president Muhammadu Buhari for the discovery and flagging exploration of oil and gas in Bauchi, Mohammed noted the commitment of the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
“This school we are building today, we have gotten a lot of support from the NATAL resources account of the federal government where the last administration approved N17 billion for us.
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“It is out of it that we are using N6 billion to build this school and the contributions of the federal government in the project is enormous.
“The academy has been provided with befitting offices, classrooms, and accommodations equipped with basic furniture and equipment.
“Also as part of efforts to develop its ICT, the institution has been provided with an online management system and ICT center equipped with one hundred sets of computers to facilitate effective e-learning services,” he said.
Mohammed also said that the institution had been provided with an 18 seater bus among other needed equipment.
He explained that the institution is also established to provide the youth with vocational skills training for self-reliance.