Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
The North-East Governors’ Forum has called on the Federal Government to revive stalled oil exploration activities in Borno State, saying the region should be allowed to fully explore its natural resources and turn them into opportunities for economic growth, employment and development.
The call was made at the conclusion of the 13th regular meeting of the North-East Governors’ Forum, held at the Borno State Government House in Maiduguri from October 2 to 3, 2026. The meeting brought together governors and senior officials from Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe states to discuss issues ranging from security and infrastructure to economic integration and regional development.
The governors specifically asked the Federal Government to revisit oil exploration activities that had previously commenced in Magumeri and Gubio Local Government Areas of Borno State but were later stalled. The position was contained in the communiqué issued after the meeting and read by Adamawa State Governor and Vice Chairman of the forum, Umaru Fintiri.
Borno State Governor and Chairman of the North-East Governors’ Forum, Babagana Zulum, also used the occasion to commend the Federal Government for the renewed attention being given to the Kolmani oil project in the North-East. According to him, the revival of exploration at Kolmani should not be seen merely as an oil and gas investment, but as a potential driver of jobs, infrastructure and broader economic activity in the region.
The governors’ renewed interest in oil exploration comes against the background of the long-running effort to develop the Kolmani oil field, located around the Bauchi-Gombe axis. The project has attracted attention over the years because of its potential to expand Nigeria’s petroleum-producing areas and create new sources of economic activity outside the traditional oil-producing areas of the country.
Earlier in August, the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission had also called for the resumption of activities at the Kolmani oil field after inspecting the site. The commission said restarting the project could help generate additional revenue for the Federation, the host states and surrounding communities.
For the North-East governors, however, the conversation should not stop at Kolmani. They want the Federal Government to extend the renewed momentum to other areas where oil and gas exploration has previously been undertaken or where there is potential for further discoveries.
Zulum particularly linked the development of the region’s natural resources to the broader effort to rebuild communities affected by years of insecurity. He argued that responsible exploration could strengthen local economies, support reconstruction, restore livelihoods and create sustainable opportunities for the region’s rapidly growing population.
This argument is significant for Borno, where years of insurgency have disrupted economic activities, displaced communities and damaged infrastructure. The governor’s position is that economic development and security cannot be treated as completely separate issues. Creating jobs and legitimate sources of income, particularly for young people, is being presented as part of the wider effort to rebuild the region.
The governors also pointed to other areas of potential exploration in Borno and the wider North-East, including the Lake Chad Basin. Some reports on the meeting also identified Bama and Monguno among areas the state would like exploration efforts to reach.
The renewed focus on the oil sector is coming at a time when the North-East is also trying to develop a broader regional economic agenda. Beyond petroleum, the governors discussed electricity, transportation, infrastructure, education and employment as areas that require greater cooperation among the six states.
On energy, the forum highlighted the contribution of the Dadinkowa Hydropower Plant to the national grid and encouraged member states to take advantage of Nigeria’s electricity reforms and the region’s solar potential to develop mini-grids and other local power solutions. The governors also renewed their call for the completion of the long-delayed Mambila Hydropower Project.
Transportation was another major part of the discussion, with the governors announcing plans to work with Green Ville Energy on establishing additional CNG and LNG stations across the region. They also acknowledged plans involving electric tricycles, buses and taxis aimed at improving mobility and reducing transportation costs.
The forum also welcomed renewed federal attention to major infrastructure projects affecting the region, including the Port Harcourt–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe–Maiduguri rail corridor and the Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe–Biu–Maiduguri highway. For the governors, improved transportation infrastructure would be important in moving agricultural products, supporting businesses and connecting communities to wider markets.
There is also an economic argument behind the governors’ push for greater exploration. If commercially viable oil and gas resources are established and developed, the projects could attract investment, create direct and indirect employment and generate business opportunities for communities around the production areas. But actual benefits would depend on successful exploration, commercial viability, infrastructure, security and effective management of the resources.
The call to revive Borno’s stalled exploration therefore represents more than a request to restart drilling operations. It is part of a wider demand from the region’s governors for greater federal investment in the North-East and for the region’s natural and human resources to become part of its long-term economic recovery.
For residents and communities in Borno, the key issue will ultimately be what exploration translates into on the ground. If commercial discoveries are established, the expectation would be that development should bring jobs, roads, electricity, businesses and other opportunities while ensuring that host communities are properly considered.
For now, the North-East Governors’ Forum has placed the issue firmly before the Federal Government: while the renewed push at Kolmani is welcomed, they want the stalled exploration activities in Borno revisited as part of a broader regional development strategy.
The coming months will show whether the Federal Government responds to that request and whether the renewed attention on Kolmani can translate into sustained exploration and development across other prospective areas of the North-East.
