Efforts are underway by the Kogi State government to draw investments for the exploration of the state’s oil and gas potential.
This development followed a strategic meeting earlier in the week between Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Engr. Gbenga Komolafe. The discussions centered on advancing oil and gas exploration initiatives in Kogi State.
According to a statement released Thursday by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Ismaila Isah, the meeting—held at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja—focused on steps to attract both investment and technical backing for tapping into the state’s hydrocarbon potential. Emphasis was placed on utilizing the frontier basin exploration fund managed by the NUPRC.
Governor Ododo reiterated the state’s commitment to working with federal institutions and industry stakeholders to harness its natural resources for economic advancement through the development of oil and gas reserves.
He also emphasized key initiatives undertaken by his administration, such as the creation of the Oil Producing Area Development Commission and active engagement with relevant federal agencies. These measures, he said, are aimed at ensuring inclusive participation in resource development that benefits local communities and attracts private investors.
Back in October 2024, during a working visit to the petroleum minister, the governor had pledged to create a conducive environment for investors involved in petroleum resource exploration within the state.
Governor Ododo further expressed the willingness of his administration to align with the federal government’s push to commence oil exploration activities in Kogi, in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s agenda to increase national oil output.
Senator Lokpobiri, on his part, reaffirmed Kogi’s status as an oil-producing state and assured of the federal government’s readiness to facilitate investment inflow into the state’s oil and gas sector.
Under the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act, the NUPRC is tasked with the exploration of frontier basins and deploying resources to unlock fresh oil prospects across Nigeria.
Kogi was officially recognized as the first oil-producing state in Northern Nigeria following the federal government’s 2022 confirmation of commercial oil discovery in the area.
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