Efforts to commence commercial oil production in Ogun State gained momentum as a technical team from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) carried out an on-site assessment of the Eba oil well in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area.
The inspection follows the approval granted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for commercial exploration and is aimed at ensuring that the necessary technical standards, infrastructure and security arrangements are in place ahead of drilling. Officials from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and national security agencies accompanied the NNPCL team during the exercise.
The delegation was led by the Project Coordinator for Enserv, Hussein Aliyu, who headed the NNPCL Enserv technical team. Other team members included Wasiu Adeniyi, Onwugba Kelechi, Engr. Rabiu M. Audu, Ojonoka Braimah, Ahmad Usman, Akinbosola Oluwaseyi, Salisu Nuhu, James Amezhinim, Yusuf Abdul-Azeez, Amararu Isukul and Livinus J. Kigbu.
Governor Dapo Abiodun described the visit as a significant step in Ogun State’s economic diversification drive, noting that oil production at Eba would open up new employment opportunities, stimulate local development and strengthen the federal government’s footprint in the state’s coastal areas.
According to the Governor, earlier Geological findings had established the presence of hydrocarbons within the Ogun Waterside axis, leading to initial surveys and technical engagements by NNPCL. He added that the State Government independently verified the coordinates of the oil well, confirming that the discovery falls squarely within Ogun State.
To safeguard the project, naval personnel have been stationed at the Eba site for more than 18 months, with logistical and operational support from the Ogun State Government.
Stakeholders see the Eba oil well as part of Nigeria’s broader strategy to expand crude oil production beyond the Niger Delta region. They noted that attention will now shift to regulatory compliance, community engagement, environmental management and the orderly commencement of commercial drilling.
The Ogun State Government also acknowledged President Tinubu’s support for the development of frontier oil basins, describing it as a move toward a more inclusive and geographically balanced energy sector.
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