By ABIODUN LAWAL

Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun says President Bola Tinubu has approved the commencement of commercial oil drilling at Tongeji Island in Ipokia local government area of the state.

Abiodun disclosed this on Thursday in Abeokuta while receiving the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abubakar Mustapha and other senior officers in his office.

He said the president had also approved the immediate take-off of the Olokola Deep Seaport project in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area, bringing an end to years of delay surrounding the multibillion-dollar port.

According to him, both projects are of special interest to the president, adding that the seaport would help decongest Lagos ports, while oil drilling at Tongeji Island would boost economic activities and inclusion in coastal communities.

“Mr President has approved the commencement of commercial oil drilling operations at Tongeji Island, and activities will soon begin there.

“The Olokola deep seaport project, which has been on the drawing board for several years, has been revived following a series of meetings with the president.

“I want to sincerely thank Mr President because this is solely his initiative. In the last two weeks alone, we have held several meetings on Olokola, and he has clearly expressed his desire to see the port become a reality,” he said.

The governor said the seaport, to be known as the Blue Marine Economic Zone, would leverage the coastal road as an alternative logistics corridor and further ease pressure on the Lagos ports.

He commended the Nigerian Navy for establishing a Forward Operations Base at Tongeji Island, saying the move would enhance security and prevent infiltration from neighbouring Benin Republic.

He said that the state government was working to provide basic amenities for residents of the island to improve living conditions and support emerging economic activities.

Abiodun thanked the Navy for its contribution to security in the state, attributing the relative peace in Ogun to collaboration among security agencies.

Earlier, Mustapha described Ogun as strategic to Nigeria’s national security, adding that the naval outpost at Tongeji Island would be upgraded to a Forward Operations Base due to the area’s oil potential.

He said the visit was to strengthen cooperation between the Nigerian Navy and the Ogun state government, particularly in securing Nigeria’s border with the Republic of Benin and preventing criminal activities.

“Furthermore, the confirmed oil and gas potentials of Ogun state place it among the critical states that will drive Nigeria’s Blue Economy aspirations in the coming years.

“The development of upcoming ports and other key maritime infrastructure further reinforces the state’s importance within Nigeria’s overall maritime and national security strategy.

“As the flag officer commanding, western Naval command, my responsibility is to secure the entire maritime and inland water space from the Republic of Benin boundary down to the Ondo/Lagos axis.

“Ensuring that criminal activities are prevented. Since assuming command, I have intensified operations across the area of responsibility,” he said. (NAN)

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