President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the start of commercial oil drilling at Tongeji Island in Ipokia Local Government Area, positioning Ogun State to become an oil-producing state.
Peak Newspaper reports that the approval was disclosed on Thursday by Governor Dapo Abiodun during a courtesy visit by the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abubakar Abdullahi Mustapha, in Abeokuta.
Abiodun also announced presidential clearance for the immediate commencement of the Olokola Deep Seaport project in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area, ending years of uncertainty around the initiative. He described both projects as priorities for the President, noting that the seaport would ease pressure on Lagos ports while the oil drilling project would stimulate development in coastal communities.
The governor said the Olokola Deep Seaport, to be renamed the Blue Marine Economic Zone, is expected to benefit from the ongoing coastal road, creating a new logistics corridor. He praised the Navy’s Forward Operations Base at Tongeji Island for strengthening border security. Rear Admiral Mustapha confirmed plans to upgrade the base due to the area’s oil potential.
