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🛢️ Black Gold in the North: NNPCL Strikes Four Wells in Kolmani, Bauchi — and Eyes More

In what’s shaping up to be a new era for Nigeria’s energy map, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL) is planting deeper roots in the country’s north. At the heart of the action: Kolmani, Bauchi State, where the company has already drilled four oil wells—a move that signals growing confidence in the region’s fossil fuel potential.

🚧 “We’re Just Getting Started,” says Yusuf Usman, a Director at NNPCL, who made the big reveal on Wednesday in Kaduna at the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation’s interactive session on government-citizen engagement.

“We’re currently evaluating the right technology to scale operations for the next drilling phase,” Usman stated, suggesting the oil play in Kolmani is far from tapped out.

⚙️ A New Energy Frontier in Northern Nigeria?
The Kolmani project has long been heralded as a strategic pivot—expanding Nigeria’s oil economy beyond the traditional Niger Delta stronghold. With four wells already in place and more likely on the way, the north could soon become a critical piece in the nation’s energy puzzle.

But it’s not just about crude.

🔥 Gas Revolution: CNG & LNG Plants Underway in Kogi
Usman also delivered major updates on Nigeria’s push to diversify its energy mix. In support of President Tinubu’s Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Initiative, five new CNG and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plants are under construction in Kogi State.

💬 “These plants will radically improve gas supply and accessibility across the northern region,” he said, underscoring NNPCL’s strategy to decentralize energy infrastructure and reduce dependency on petrol.

🧭 Energy Equity or Political Optics?
For years, the northern region of Nigeria was seen as energy-poor—a consumer, not a producer. But with Kolmani showing promise and gas infrastructure expanding, this narrative is shifting.

Still, questions linger:

How soon will the Kolmani wells begin producing at scale?

What safeguards are in place for local communities?

And will these gas plants translate to cheaper, cleaner fuel for households and transport?

🚀 A Tinubu-Era Power Play
Under the Tinubu administration, NNPCL is clearly in motion—shaking up old assumptions about where oil belongs and who benefits. From Bauchi to Kogi, the stakes are high, the ambitions bold.

Whether this becomes a true northern energy revolution or just another headline depends on what happens after the applause fades.

For now, four wells down—and the north is watching.

By Haruna Yakubu Haruna