BY: NEWS DESK, OCTOBER 03, 2026/ 11:39PM
Borno State Governor and Chairman of the North-East Governors' Forum, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for reviving oil exploration activities at the Kolmani wells, while urging the Federal Government to also revive exploration work in Borno State's oil fields.
He gave the commendation on Saturday at the 13th regular meeting of the North-East Governors' Forum held at the Multipurpose Hall of the Government House in Maiduguri.
The two-day meeting, which began on October 2 and ends October 3, 2026, brought together governors from the six northeastern states to deliberate on regional development, security, and economic cooperation.
Governors in attendance were Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa and Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe, while the Governors of Bauchi and Yobe were represented by their deputies.
In his address, Gov. Zulum said the resumption of oil exploration in the North-East, particularly at Kolmani and the Lake Chad basin, was a critical component of the region's economic revival strategy.
'Distinguished colleagues, I wish to begin by expressing our sincere appreciation to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for the Federal Government’s continued commitment to the development of the North-East.
'We particularly welcome the renewed efforts towards reviving exploration activities at the Kolmani Oil Field in Bauchi State. The revival of this important project represents more than an investment in the oil and gas sector; it offers an opportunity to unlock new economic possibilities, create employment, stimulate infrastructure development and broaden the revenue base of our states and communities,' he said.
The forum chairman urged that the momentum be extended to Borno State, stressing that reviving exploration in Magumeri and Gubio Local Government Areas would complement military operations and accelerate development across the sub-region.
'In the same spirit, we respectfully urge the Federal Government to revisit the exploration activities earlier commenced but subsequently stalled in Magumeri and Gubio Local Government Areas of Borno State.
'Responsible exploration and development of our natural resources can complement ongoing reconstruction efforts, strengthen local economies, restore livelihoods and create sustainable opportunities for our rapidly growing population,' Gov. Zulum explained.
Also speaking, Gombe State Governor, Mohammed Inuwa Yahaya, listed achievements recorded since the creation of the forum, including the establishment of the North-East Education Council and joint efforts to tackle out-of-school children.
'Our states are addressing the Almajiri and out-of-school children challenge through practical models, from Borno's Tsangaya Commission to Taraba's Almajiri Model Education Centres and our own Integrated Almajiri Education Centres in Gombe,' Gov. Yahaya said.
The 13th North-East Governors’ Forum meeting is expected to issue a communiqué outlining measures on security, economic integration, and infrastructure development.