NNPCL Moves to Begin Commercial Drilling at Eba Oil Well in Ogun Waterside After Tinubu’s Approval
Commercial oil drilling is set to begin in Ogun State as a technical delegation from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) conducted a high-level inspection of the Eba oil well in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area.
The site visit followed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s authorisation for commercial exploration and forms part of broader Federal Government efforts to activate technical infrastructure and operational capacity for crude oil production in the state. PulseNets learned that the inspection exercise was carried out in collaboration with officials of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and relevant national security agencies to assess the facility’s preparedness for drilling operations.
The delegation was headed by Hussein Aliyu, Project Coordinator for Enserv, who led the NNPCL Enserv technical team. Other members of the inspection team included Wasiu Adeniyi, Onwugba Kelechi, Engr. Rabiu M. Audu, Ojonoka Braimah, Ahmad Usman, Akinbosola Oluwaseyi, Salisu Nuhu, James Amezhinim, Yusuf Abdul-Azeez, Amararu Isukul and Livinus J. Kigbu.
The visit marks a critical phase in the operational roadmap for the Eba oil well project, which industry stakeholders consider a strategic expansion of Nigeria’s upstream petroleum footprint beyond the traditional Niger Delta axis.
Governor Dapo Abiodun described the development as a major breakthrough for the state, noting that the commencement of drilling activities at the Eba oil well would unlock significant economic opportunities.
“The commencement of drilling at Eba would stimulate economic growth, create employment opportunities and attract increased federal presence to the state’s coastal communities.”
Geological assessments had previously confirmed hydrocarbon deposits within the Ogun Waterside corridor, prompting a series of technical evaluations and preliminary engagements by NNPCL. PulseNets obtained details that the Ogun State Government also undertook an independent verification process to confirm the precise coordinates of the oil well, affirming that the discovery lies squarely within Ogun State’s territorial boundaries.
Security has remained a key component of the project framework. PulseNets learnt that naval security operatives have maintained a presence at the site for more than 18 months, working in collaboration with the Ogun State Government to safeguard the installation and surrounding communities.
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Energy sector observers view the Eba oil well development as part of Nigeria’s broader strategy to diversify crude oil production locations and strengthen output capacity in frontier basins. Stakeholders told PulseNets that the next operational phase will prioritise regulatory compliance, structured community engagement, environmental safeguards and seamless commencement of full commercial drilling.
The Ogun State Government also expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for backing the development of frontier oil basins and ensuring a more balanced distribution of the country’s energy assets across regions.
