Zulum Urges FG To Revive Oil Exploration In Borno
E-ISSN: 2354-4481
By Frederick Ndukwe Chibuzor
MAIDUGURI, BORNO STATE — Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has called on the Federal Government to revive oil exploration activities in Magumeri and Gubio Local Government Areas of the state.
Zulum made the appeal during the 13th regular meeting of the North-East Governors’ Forum held in Maiduguri, where governors from the region reviewed issues concerning development, security and economic cooperation.
The governor said renewed exploration for crude oil and other hydrocarbon resources in the North-East could provide a major boost to the regional economy while creating employment opportunities for residents.
He particularly identified the Kolmani oil field and the Lake Chad Basin as areas with significant potential that could contribute to the economic transformation of the region if exploration activities were sustained.
According to him, the revival of oil exploration in Borno would not only increase economic activity but also support the development of critical infrastructure and provide opportunities for young people in communities affected by years of insecurity.
Zulum also linked the proposed resumption of exploration activities to the broader reconstruction and recovery efforts in Borno State, arguing that economic development remained essential to achieving lasting stability in the region.
The governor noted that strengthening local economies and creating sustainable livelihoods could complement ongoing counter-insurgency efforts by reducing economic vulnerabilities and giving residents greater opportunities to participate in legitimate economic activities.
He therefore urged the Federal Government and relevant agencies to revisit the stalled exploration activities in Magumeri and Gubio and consider measures that could facilitate their resumption.
The call comes as governments across the North-East continue to seek ways of diversifying their economies and reducing the region’s dependence on federal allocations.
For Borno, the governor said the development of its oil resources could open a new economic frontier for the state and contribute to the funding of infrastructure and other development projects.
The meeting of the North-East Governors’ Forum also provided an opportunity for the participating states to deliberate on common regional challenges, including insecurity, economic development and cooperation among governments.
Governors from Adamawa and Gombe attended the meeting, while Bauchi and Yobe states were represented by their deputy governors.
The forum has continued to serve as a platform for governors in the North-East to coordinate their responses to challenges affecting the region and pursue collective strategies for development.
Zulum’s renewed call for oil exploration therefore places resource development alongside security and reconstruction as key components of Borno’s long-term recovery strategy.
The governor expressed the expectation that renewed exploration in the state and other parts of the North-East would stimulate investment, generate employment and contribute to sustainable economic growth.
The proposed resumption of oil exploration in Magumeri and Gubio is expected to attract renewed attention to the petroleum potential of Borno State as authorities continue efforts to rebuild communities and strengthen economic activities across the state.
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