THE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) will soon begin oil and gas exploration in Ogun State, Nigeria.

This was disclosed when Dapo Abiodun, on Friday, played host to the Federal Government delegation led by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri.

Others in the delegation included the Managing Director, Shell Petroleum Development Company Ltd, Mr. Osagie Okubor; Chief Executive, Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe and NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr Mele Kyari.

This invariably implies that the quest by the Gateway State to join the league of oil-producing states in the country will soon materialise.

Speaking at the governor’s office in Abeokuta, Lokpobiri said Ogun State has always been part of the Dahomey Basin with the prospect of having a huge deposit of hydro-carbon.

“We decided that we are going to resume exploration in the different Basins; we decided to come to Ogun State to reassure the people that we have very high potential of discoveries here.

“Ogun has always been part of the Dahomey Basin and our presence underscores the seriousness the Federal Government attaches to the exploration activities that we want to carry out in Ogun State,” the minister mooted.

Lokpobiri said oil and gas remained the quickest way to Nigeria’s economic prosperity, stressing that his team was in the state in continuation of the campaign for exploration activities.

He said the visit was also to demonstrate the seriousness and commitment of the Federal Government to shore up its revenue through the oil and gas sector.

“Today, we are here to tell the people of the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that we continue our campaign and exploration activities across the country.

“We are doing this exploration activities in several places across Nigeria and, today, we are in Ogun after which we will proceed to Sokoto State,” he added.

In his remarks, Governor Abiodun said Ogun State was part of the OPLs 302, 303 306, 307.

He said the acreages present unique opportunities for the qualification as a Frontier Exploration State as defined in the PIA section 9.

He stated that the history and studies over the years allow any investment under the frontier exploration basin funding to not only realize the oil and gas potentials, but also acquire data that would aid Bitumen exploration and exploitation in Nigeria.

“It is noteworthy that this is a region of the country that provides ease of access, low entry and operating costs, a safe and welcoming community and a very active state government’s support and participation.

“Ogun State, therefore, presents some unique opportunities towards the realization of the full intentions of the PIA section 9 on frontier exploration as it will contribute to guarantee additional petroleum production for the country and afford more supply to potential refineries in the area.

“As a low-hanging result, this area also presents the opportunity for Bitumen extraction, thereby reducing import dependency and bringing with it savings in foreign exchange expenditure on this single line item,” he noted.