NNPCL commercial drilling preparations begin at Eba oil well in Ogun State, with technical inspections and security measures underway for production launch

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has commenced preparations for commercial drilling at the Eba oil well in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area, following a technical inspection of the site by its specialist team on Wednesday.

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The inspection, carried out alongside representatives from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and national security agencies, evaluated the well’s readiness for drilling operations.

The exercise follows approval from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for commercial exploration in Ogun State.

Hussein Aliyu, Project Coordinator for Enserv, led the NNPCL technical team, which included engineers and specialists such as Wasiu Adeniyi, Onwugba Kelechi, Rabiu M. Audu, and Akinbosola Oluwaseyi.

The delegation assessed infrastructure, environmental safeguards, and security arrangements ahead of full-scale production.

Governor Dapo Abiodun hailed the development as a landmark achievement, noting that commercial drilling at Eba would stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and enhance federal presence in coastal communities.

Geological reports had previously confirmed hydrocarbons in the Ogun Waterside axis, with both NNPCL and the state government independently verifying the well’s coordinates.

To safeguard the site, naval security personnel have maintained a continuous presence for over 18 months.

Stakeholders highlighted that the next phase would prioritise regulatory compliance, community engagement, environmental protection, and the smooth commencement of production.

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The state government expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for supporting the development of frontier oil basins and promoting the equitable spread of Nigeria’s energy resources.