Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has allocated 100 hectares of land to the Nigerian Navy for the establishment of a Naval Base and Naval Dockyard in the state.
The official documents were presented to the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, during a courtesy visit to the Naval Headquarters in Abuja on Friday.
Governor Abiodun emphasized that the allocation of land is part of Ogun State’s strategic preparations as it moves towards becoming an oil-producing state. He highlighted that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) recently declared Ogun as having attained frontier status, paving the way for oil exploration to begin in the near future.
“This status was justified by historical data, with Shell having drilled wells in the region around Tongaji Island over 60 years ago, before shifting focus to other areas,” the governor explained. With the exploration of oil and the presence of abundant bitumen deposits in the state, Abiodun asserted that the need for a Naval Base and Dockyard to protect these facilities is imminent.
The governor also discussed the importance of the Natural Gas Project (LNG) in Ogun, which has gained renewed attention due to global shifts in natural gas supply following the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. He pointed out that the establishment of a naval presence is a critical condition for the successful realization of this multi-billion-dollar project.
In response, Vice Admiral Ogalla praised the initiative, acknowledging Ogun’s significance as an industrial hub that requires robust security measures to safeguard investments. He assured that the Navy would expedite the establishment of the base, urging the governor to provide the Certificate of Occupancy so that preparations could begin immediately.
Ogalla highlighted that the Naval Base and Dockyard would play a crucial role in securing strategic investments, including the proposed LNG project and the development of the Tongeji Island, which are expected to inject billions of dollars into Nigeria’s economy.
The CNS concluded by affirming the Navy’s commitment to collaborating with Ogun State to ensure these ventures’ success, noting Ogun’s strategic importance in the nation’s economic and security landscape.
