Nigeria NNPC to Kickstart Oil and Gas Exploration in Ogun State

The Ogun government announces plans for oil and gas exploration by NNPC Limited in the state, aiming to become an oil-producing region soon. The move follows discussions with stakeholders, highlighting the Dahomey Basin's potential.

The Ogun state government has announced the commencement of oil and gas exploration by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited in the state, marking a significant step towards its aspiration to become an oil-producing region.

Stakeholders from the oil and gas industry convened with Governor Dapo Abiodun and Deputy Governor Noimot Salako-Oyedele to discuss the potential of the Dahomey Basin, where Ogun is located, emphasizing its high hydrocarbon deposit prospects.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, affirmed the federal government's commitment to exploration activities in Ogun, citing the basin's historical association with significant oil reserves. NNPC Group CEO, Mele Kyari, echoed this sentiment, expressing optimism about discovering oil in commercial quantities and promising the company's prompt return to commence exploration.

Gbenga Komolafe, CEO of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), highlighted the collaboration between NUPRC and NNPC to leverage the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) for frontier basin development, emphasizing the importance of Ogun's inclusion in this initiative. Governor Abiodun emphasized Ogun's strategic position within the Dahomey Basin, offering conducive conditions for exploration and potential economic benefits, including reduced import dependency and foreign exchange expenditure.

The state government is optimistic about contributing to national petroleum production and supporting potential refineries in the region, signaling a significant development in Nigeria's oil and gas sector.