Since the announcement of oil discovery by the Muhammadu Buhari administration, through Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPC, people from different parts of the country, jubilated over the milestone achievement.
However, the development came with a lot of controversies. The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by President Buhari, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state, Group Managing Director NNPL, Mele Kyari, among other dignitaries. But shortly after, an argument ensued between the neighbouring Gombe state and its mother state Bauchi, about who owns the Kolmani oil well.
Besides, Bauchi state may be right to claim the ownership of Kolmani oil because the oil well is located in Barambu, a village in Alkaleri local government area of Bauchi state, Bauchians cited the presence of their governor at the groundbreaking ceremony as one of the proofs that they own the oil well.
Gombe state, on the other hand, has more than a reason to claim the ownership because of their closeness to the point where the oil was drilled. Therefore, oil as a liquid stuff cannot just be for Bauchi alone.
Unfortunately, farmers operating within the host community of MaiMadi, Kwaimawa, among the other seven communities, complained that they were not paid for the damage done to their farmlands in the course of the oil drill.
Among them, one person claimed the ownership of the Kolmani oil well which, according to him, was inherited from his father and yet to be compensated. Also, the report indicated that workers who served during the seismic operation were not properly paid but only promised to be paid on unspecified dates.
Farmers and other people from the host community should be informed about the operation, to be able to seek entitlement associated with the oil drill operation in their localities.
With the aforementioned claims, one must note with dismay failure of the social responsibility service expected for those communities.
Above all, what Nigerians need to know is how much we need to foster national development above our personal interest to build the Nigeria of our dream. We should also learn from the experience of our people down South.
There is a need for cooperation and mutual understanding between the two states, the farmers, and of course the entire host community to benefit from such a remarkable achievement.
Ibrahim Garba,
Bauchi, Bauchi state
