By Prof. Umar Adamu Danbattta
1.0 Introduction
The Sokoto Basin, spanning Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, and Katsina States in northwestern Nigeria, forms part of the larger Iullemmeden Basin, which is a major trans-West African sedimentary structure extending into Niger, Mali, and Algeria. Covering approximately 29,000 km² in Nigeria, Iullemmeden Basin’s tectonic evolution, is marked by rifting, compression, and sedimentation. It originated as a a half-graben shallow marine depression before evolving into a continental sag basin.
The Sokoto Basin remains one of Nigeria’s underexplored inland basins, and it is currently being prioritized for exploration under the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited’s Frontier Exploration Programme. Kebbi State straddles two major geological provinces: the crystalline Basement Complex in the southeastern areas of Zuru, Yauri, and Bagudo, and the sedimentary Sokoto Basin in the northern and western parts, particularly around Argungu, Augie, and Birnin Kebbi.
The Iullemmeden Basin (including the Sokoto segment), hosts a variety of petroleum systems characterized by viable source rocks, structural and stratigraphic traps, and sealing mechanisms. Exploration efforts across the broader basin have led to notable discoveries such as the Bilma and Agadem fields in Niger Republic and the Tabankort field in Mali. Companies like the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) International and Kuwait Energy are actively exploring the region’s potential.
With part of Kebbi State lying in the southern reaches of the Sokoto Basin, the Federal Government’s “Decade of Gas” initiative and broader energy diversification strategy have reignited interest in the area’s untapped hydrocarbon potential. This renewed focus aims to reduce Nigeria’s overdependence on the Niger Delta region for oil and gas, positioning inland basins like Sokoto (and by extension, Kebbi State), as new frontiers for energy development.
The growing public interest in Kebbi State’s oil prospects has prompted numerous inquiries to the Centre for Inland Basins Studies (CIBS) at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria. These inquiries intensified following recent statements by Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, and the Commissioner of Information and Culture, Yakubu Ahmed BK, highlighting the state’s promising oil and gas potential (Daily Post, April 14, 2025).
This article provides a concise and accessible synthesis of current geological knowledge and available scientific data to explore the petroleum prospectivity of Kebbi State. It aims to demystify the region’s geologic history and highlight its emerging role in Nigeria’s evolving oil and gas landscape.
2.0 Geological and Hydrocarbon Generation Dynamics
Kebbi State lies predominantly within the southern portion of the Sokoto Basin, which is an underexplored sedimentary basin that forms the southeastern extension of the Iullemmeden Basin in West Africa. This region is geologically endowed with the fundamental ingredients necessary for hydrocarbon generation and accumulation.
Tectonic and stratigraphic studies reveal that the Sokoto Basin underwent multiple episodes of marine transgressions and regressions over geologic time. These conditions created favorable environments for the deposition, preservation, and maturation of organic-rich shale deposits and sandstone reservoirs analogous that are critical components for hydrocarbon generation.
Field investigations by postgraduate and undergraduate students from the Department of Geology, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, have consistently reported the presence of Cretaceous to Tertiary sedimentary sequences in the basin. These sediments were deposited in shallow marine to continental settings, which support the potential existence of viable petroleum systems.
The petroleum system in the Sokoto Basin comprises of the following key elements: i) source rocks (organic-rich shales with excellent hydrocarbon generation potential; ii) reservoir rocks (porous continental sandstones and carbonates with good storage and flow properties); and iii) seals and traps (interbedded shales and mudstones, along with structural features such as folds and faults, that create ideal conditions for hydrocarbon entrapment.
In Kebbi State, specific stratigraphic units such as the Rima Group (including the Gwandu, Kalambaina, and Wurno Formations) and the Dange Formation are believed to host these critical elements. Shales from these formations serve as potential source rocks, while associated sandstones provide reservoir potential, and interbedded shales and evaporites act as effective seals.
In recent years, a wave of academic research (including geological mapping, aeromagnetic surveys, and geochemical analyses), has reinforced the Sokoto Basin’s petroleum prospectivity. The basin exhibits geological characteristics similar to those found in the productive portions of the adjacent Iullemmeden Basin in Niger Republic, where commercial oil and gas discoveries have already been made.
Notably, a 2020 study by the late Professor N.G. Obaje and his team involved detailed outcrop mapping, sample collection, and laboratory analysis of suspected source rocks across the Sokoto Basin. Their geochemical investigations (utilizing tools like Rock-Eval pyrolysis and LECO carbon analysis), confirmed the presence of high-quality Type I kerogen, with over 90% of the samples exhibiting Total Organic Carbon (TOC) values at or above the 0.5 wt% threshold required for hydrocarbon generation.
While limitations in thermal maturity data (Tmax) exist, results of the Rock-Eval pyrolysis indicate marginal maturity, indicating that the organic matter in these rocks is generally sub-mature to marginally mature, falling within the lower bounds of the oil generation window.
However, deeper burial (exceeding 1,000 meters), is expected to raise the thermal maturity of these rocks, enabling them to generate primarily gas and some oil. Charge modeling estimates 808 million barrels of oil equivalent if deeper zones achieve adequate thermal maturity.
Preliminary evidence supporting the Sokoto basin’s petroleum prospectivity includes reports of surface hydrocarbon seepages in parts of Kebbi State. These surface indicators, coupled with the geological similarities to other productive basins within the West and Central African Rift System (WCARS), make a strong case for further exploration.
A significant development in 2023 further bolstered the basin’s petroleum potential. Researchers from the Centre for Inland Basins Studies (CIBS), ABU Zaria (led by a Deputy Director, Prof. H. Ibrahim), discovered, for the first time, tectonically derived structural features within the Sokoto Basin. These tectonically induced folds and faults, include flower structures and other deformation features that could act as structural and stratigraphic hydrocarbon traps.
If proven to be widespread across the basin, including within Kebbi State, these structures could substantially enhance the viability of the region’s petroleum system, as the findings will align with Niger’s Iullemmeden Basin successes, where similar structures host productive fields. The success of nearby fields such as Bilma and Agadem in Niger Republic provides valuable analogues.
The Bilma field, discovered in 1992, holds estimated reserves exceeding 50 million barrels of oil, while the Agadem field, discovered in 1970, boasts over 400 million barrels of reserves. These fields lie within the same geological province as the Sokoto Basin, strengthening the case for Kebbi State’s petroleum potential.
3.0 Exploration Activities and Current Status
Petroleum exploration within the broader Iullemmeden Basin began in the 1970s, but activity in Nigeria’s Sokoto Basin (covering parts of Kebbi State), has remained limited and largely inconclusive due to insufficient seismic data and exploratory drilling. Nonetheless, preliminary geophysical investigations have revealed promising subsurface anomalies, warranting further seismic acquisition and targeted exploration.
Despite the scarcity of detailed seismic and well data, researchers have carried out a range of geophysical studies to estimate sedimentary thickness and basement depth, especially through aeromagnetic surveys carried out between 2013–2020.
A notable example is the 2013 study by Ishaq et al., which utilized aeromagnetic data covering the whole Sokoto Basin to identify eight structurally favorable zones with significant exploration potential. These include: i) Yerimawa–Sabon Birni–Isa Trough; ii) Wurno–Rabah Trench; iii) Sokoto–Bodinga–Tambulwa Trench; iv) Tureta–Bakura Ditches; v) Lema–Tambo Sinks; vi) Koko–Giro Sinks; vii) Gada Holes; and viii) Kiwon Allah–Sokwoi–Illela Pits.
Similarly, in 2014, Bonde et al. conducted spectral depth analysis and geological modeling using aeromagnetic data to examine subsurface structures within the Sokoto Basin. Their findings revealed that the basin becomes progressively deeper from the margins toward the center, with the thickest sediment accumulations found near the Niger Republic border. The study also identified several deep basement depressions, particularly around Argungu, Isa, Rabah, and Gandi, with a maximum depth of approximately 2.74 kilometers in the Argungu area.
A 2020 interpretation of aeromagnetic data by Auduson and Onuoha further confirmed the presence of deep troughs, trenches, and other structural depressions within the basin. These deeper regions, primarily located near the Nigeria–Niger border, were recommended as the most promising zones for hydrocarbon accumulation and were proposed for further investigation using advanced seismic methods.
Responding to these scientific insights, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (now Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL), in collaboration with a Chinese firm, conducted preliminary 2D seismic surveys between 2018 and 2024 across parts of Kebbi State. Data from these surveys have delineated potential hydrocarbon-bearing structures in Gwandu, Argungu, Dandi, and Koko, extending to the Niger Republic frontier. The favorable stratigraphy, structural complexity, and sediment thickness in these areas strongly suggest a high petroleum prospectivity.
Despite these promising indicators, Kebbi State’s hydrocarbon resources remain largely untapped and speculative, as no exploratory drilling has yet occurred. Unlocking this potential will require targeted exploration to determine the quality, quantity, and commercial viability of the hydrocarbons present.
Integrating regional geological data with insights from analogous basins reinforces the case for further exploration in Kebbi State. This includes subsurface reservoir characterization, basin modeling, advanced 3D and 4D seismic studies, and exploratory wells. These critical next steps are needed to delineate promising prospects and assess reservoir continuity and commercial viability. They could provide critical data for de-risking investment and proving commercial quantities of hydrocarbons, as well as bring clarity to the state’s emerging role in Nigeria’s energy future.
Emerging exploration technologies (including integrated basin modeling, artificial intelligence, and digital field management), offer game-changing tools for reducing exploration risk and improving success rates. Employing these innovations can uncover hidden plays, optimize drilling programs, and reduce cost and environmental impact.
In a significant development, the Centre for Inland Basins Studies (CIBS), Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, has recently been approached by a reputable international petroleum exploration and de-risking company based in Singapore, after reading our publication on “Kolmani Oil Saga”.
This globally recognized firm is seeking to partner with oil block owners in Nigeria and other African countries and is committed to enter into partnering discussion and valued investment proposition of investing and maximizing the asset value of an oil and as project, in a shortest possible time.
The company is a premier data analytics firm specializing in geochemical and geophysical exploration, offering cutting-edge services and solutions across the entire value chain of exploration and production. At the core of their services, they offer advanced geological data acquisition, processing, and integration solutions. They have a strong international presence and a rich history of innovation and expertise, with offices in Finland, Malaysia, and Argentina.
They are pioneers in Accelerated Oil and Gas Exploration and Digital Field Management, harnessing integrated technologies, digital platforms, and artificial intelligence to enhance operational performance and reduce carbon intensity. With over 30 years of experience, the firm has helped operators unlock hidden reserves and maximize asset value from exploration through to production and eventual divestment.
The company offer complete de-risking solutions (from seismic data acquisition and interpretation to drilling and field development), tailored to boost success in frontier and inland basins. Their approach combines technological innovation with execution expertise, making them an ideal partner for revitalizing Nigeria’s inland basins, including Sokoto, Borno, Kolmani, and parts of the Gongola Basin.
CIBS ABU Zaria is positioned as a key facilitator in this opportunity and welcomes collaboration with stakeholders such as NNPCL, state governments of Kebbi, Sokoto, Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, and Nasarawa, and other relevant agencies. By leveraging this partnership, Nigeria can accelerate its inland basin exploration programs, strengthen its energy security, and diversify its oil reserve base.
This is a defining moment for Kebbi State and Nigeria at large. With the right investment, policy support, and technological deployment, the Sokoto Basin could emerge as Nigeria’s next oil frontier, which can transform regional economies and contribute meaningfully to national development. Strategic investment in these areas aligns with Nigeria’s goal of expanding hydrocarbon production beyond the Niger Delta.
4.0 Conclusion
Kebbi State holds significant untapped petroleum potential within the broader Sokoto Basin. Its favorable geological setting which is characterized by a well-developed sedimentary architecture, promising structural configurations, and regional tectonic stability, has positioned it as a viable frontier for hydrocarbon exploration within Nigeria’s inland basins.
To transition from geological hypothesis to proven reserves, targeted exploration is imperative. This includes high-resolution seismic imaging, comprehensive geochemical analyses, and exploratory drilling to delineate subsurface hydrocarbon accumulations and evaluate their commercial producibility. Unlocking Kebbi’s resource base could offer Nigeria a strategic opportunity to diversify its energy portfolio beyond the Niger Delta.
With systematic scientific investigation and policy-driven investment, Kebbi State can evolve from an underexplored territory to a commercially viable oil-producing region. Such development would not only strengthen Nigeria’s national reserves and energy security but also align with the country’s goal of achieving a 40-billion-barrel reserve and broader energy diversification.
A successful discovery in Kebbi could also influence Nigeria’s revenue allocation dynamics, potentially increasing the state’s share of federal resources even before full-scale production begins. Additionally, this would support a geographical rebalancing of Nigeria’s oil sector, complementing ongoing initiatives in Bauchi, Gombe, and Borno States.
Beyond national implications, the development of petroleum resources in Kebbi has the potential to foster regional socio-economic integration and cross-border collaboration across the West and Central African subregions. Given Kebbi’s strategic Sahelian location, the state could serve as a gateway for regional energy trade, while any associated gas discoveries could boost Nigeria’s Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) program, offering affordable alternatives to petrol and diesel.
The prospects for oil and gas development in Kebbi represent a unique opportunity to expand Nigeria’s inland energy frontier. Exploratory drilling remains a critical next step, alongside integrated policy frameworks and regional data-sharing mechanisms to unlock the basin’s full potential. With the right blend of advanced technologies, sound policies, and strategic partnerships, Kebbi can emerge as a beacon in Nigeria’s hydrocarbon landscape.
Modern techniques such as AI-driven basin modeling, digital field management, and decarbonization-focused exploration, should be prioritized to mitigate exploration risks. A Singapore-based firm with over 30 years of global experience has already proposed collaborative initiatives to deploy accelerated exploration solutions, including advanced seismic processing and reservoir characterization tools.
5.0 Recommendations
To unlock the hydrocarbon potential of Kebbi State and the Sokoto Basin, the following strategic actions are recommended:
- Accelerate Regional Seismic Surveys: Initiate detailed high-resolution 3D and 4D seismic data acquisition across key sub-basins in Kebbi State, to map reservoir depths, evaluate potential volumes, and guide precise exploratory drilling and development planning.
- Promote Public-Private Partnerships: Encourage private sector involvement through structured public-private partnerships. Government should demonstrate commitment by offering tax incentives, risk-sharing frameworks, and regulatory support for companies investing.
iii. Strengthen Research-Industry-Government Collaboration: Foster collaborative frameworks that bring together academia, industry, and government to support ongoing data generation, source rock characterization, maturity modeling, and capacity building. Institutions like CIBS can play a pivotal role in generating actionable insights for exploration.
- Preemptive Infrastructure Development: Anticipate success by developing infrastructure masterplans for pipeline systems, crude handling, modular refineries to harness gas resources, and compressed natural gas (CNG) facilities, aligning with Nigeria’s decarbonization goals.
- Security and Environmental Safeguards: Security concerns remain a key consideration given Kebbi’s proximity to the Sahel region. Mitigate Sahel-related security risks through targeted protections for exploration and prodution sites. Additionally, exploration efforts must align with evolving global decarbonization goals and environmental sustainability imperatives of adopting low-emission technologies to address global energy transition pressures.
Prof. U. A. Danbatta is the Director of the NNPCL-funded Centre for Inland Basins Studies (CIBS), Phase II Site, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. He can be reached at +2348037016754; uabatta@gmail.com; and/or uadanbatta@abu.edu.ng.
