Mohammed Shosanya
Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has met with the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kolo Kyari, in an effort to ensure Gombe State remains a vital player in Nigeria’s energy and economic system.
Oil exploration had commenced a few years ago in Kolmani, Gombe State, leading to former President Muhammadu Buhari, while presiding over affairs of the country.
But,recent agitation for the continuation of the project has heightened public demands about the sincerity of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration in continuing and completing the project expected to increase Nigeria’s oil and gas production capacity from the North.
The meeting between the two Chief Executives was held behind closed doors at the NNPCL Towers in Abuja.
The Director General, Press Affairs, Government House Gombe, Ismaila Uba Misilli,explained in a statement that the meeting was a continuation of several others held with the GMD if the NNPCL
He said the Governor was leveraging the strategic position of Gombe State as a hub for oil and gas activities in the North, particularly with the Kolmani Integrated Development Project and other energy-related investments.
“Governor Inuwa Yahaya has always shown commitment to promoting partnerships with key stakeholders like the NNPCL and other national and international entities towards creating sustainable economic opportunities for the people of Gombe State, the North East and the Northern region”,Misilli added
Apart from discussing matters involving Gombe State, Governor Inuwa also held the meeting in his capacity as the Chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum, thus, bringing regional issues into the front burner of the discussions,Misilli said.
Meanwhile,the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has pledged to work closely with stakeholders in the sports sector to develop and commercialise the game of football in Nigeria.
The Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of NNPC Ltd., Mr. Mele Kyari,made the commitment while receiving a delegation from the National Sports Commission, the International Management Group (IMG) and AfroSport Network at the NNPC Towers
Addressing the delegation which was led by the Chairman of the National Sports Commission and Minister of Sports, Alhaji Shehu Dikko, the GCEO said NNPC Ltd. was ready to be part of the initiative to revamp the nation’s football.
“NNPC will be a prime partner in the journey to bring back value to our football, to reshape it, re-engineer it and bring happiness to our people”, Kyari stated.
He expressed delight that the company was identified as a critical partner in the journey of making Nigerian Football work again, stressing that football was a tool of immense value that could bring untold benefits to the Nigerian economy and to the NNPC as a company.
Speaking earlier,the Chairman of the National Sports Commission and Minister of Sports, Alhaji Shehu Dikko, said football was fundamental to the economies of the best footballing countries in the world, adding that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called for immediate action to revamp the game.
He said the multiplier effects of football were enormous and could facilitate the revamp of related industries across the value chain.
The Minister noted that IMG which promotes the English Premier League was invited as a technical partner to leverage their experience in the sport.