Gombe governor urges NNPC to begin oil exploration at Kolmani River

The Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has called on the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) to ensure the actualisation of exploitation of the discovered oil in the Kolmani area of Pindiga Emirate of the state.

 The governor stated this at the weekend during a civic reception organised by the Pindiga Emirate Council in honour of the retired state’s acting Chief Judge, Justice Muazu Abdulkadir Pindiga.

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 He said the NNPC through its Frontier Exploration Division had injected resources, which culminated in the discovery of a significant quantity of oil commercially viable in the Kolmani area.

 Governor Yahaya explained that on several occasions he visited the corporate headquarters of the NNPC and also met with President Muhammadu Buhari “To interface with them on how best we can benefit from the oil and gas deposits in our state.”

 According to him, the federal government had concluded plans to begin the exploitation of the crude oil, “But for the economic crunch experienced lately, occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic. But I assure you this will happen, and I am committed to seeing to that.”

On the retired acting chief judge, the governor urged him not to jettison the fine and exceptional characters that distinguished him as a forthright judge in the temple of justice.

 He expressed optimism that the retirement of Justice Pindiga would further provide an opportunity for him to continue doing more for the good of his immediate community of Pindiga and the state at large.

 In a goodwill message, immediate past President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Adamu Bulkachuwa (Rtd), congratulated the retired Justice Pindiga for successfully exiting the judiciary without blemish, describing him as an astute jurist “Whose hard work and dedication to the dispensation of Justice is pragmatic.”

 In his remarks, the Emir of Pindiga, Muhammad Seyoji Ahmed assured that the seeming imbroglio between Gombe and Bauchi States over the Kolmani oil field would not cause any rift between the sister states.

 He stated that the reception was organised to honour Justice Muazu in recognition of his numerous contributions to the growth and development of the Pindiga Emirate, the judiciary and the state at large.