The states of Bauchi and Gombe are reportedly at dagger-drawn over the ownership of the new oil wells in Kolmani, North East Nigeria.
President Muhammadu Buhari flagged off exploration of crude oil from the new location a fortnight ago.
The peace meeting held by President Buhari with the governors of the two states at Aso Rock shortly before the commissioning ceremony appears to have collapsed
Reports say both officials and residents of the two states are accusing each other of attempts to appropriate the site of the oil wells said to contain about one billion barrels of crude oil reserves and 500 billion standard cubic feet of gas.
It will be recalled that President Buhari had announced a $3billion investment in the new oil well during the commissioning.
The exploration of Kolmanin oil field is being handled by the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited and its JV partners.
Kolmani is reported to have oil in commercial quantities and has oil prospecting licenses 809 and 810 which cut across Kolmani one to five.
Buhari said at the event that the project had received over $3 billion in investment so far. The President said both states committed to cooperating with each other and among their localities. The special adviser to Gombe state governor on information management and strategy, Ahmed Gara-Gombe, said the boundary commission is to blame for the crisis.
He said the Kolmani oil well is situated in Gombe state, in Akko local government. Pindiga Emirate Tai district Kaltanga Mamuda ward, insisting it has nothing to with Bauchi state or the Alkaleri local government, as being speculated.
“The truth is that the Kolmani oil well is in Gombe State; Akko Local Government, Pindiga emirate, Tai district, Kaltanga Mamuda ward. It has nothing to do with Bauchi state or Alkaleri local government,” he said.
According to him, the solution is to give the oil well to Gombe State and let Bauchi explore oil on its own, Gara-Gombe said
He called for an independent jury to determine and verify various claims. “Our people whose land was dubiously taken in the name of the access road and were paid between N64,000 to N117,000 as compensation by the NNPC must be paid appropriately.
“NNPC must go to the Gombe side and construct a road as they did on the Bauchi side. Besides, Pindiga (Gombe) to Kolmani is shorter and familiar terrain than the Bauchi (side) which is longer and unfriendly terrain.’’
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