Insecurity: Ogun Allocates 100 Hectares of Land to Navy to Establish Base, Dockyard

The Ogun State Government has allocated 100 hectares of land to the Nigerian Navy to establish a Naval Base and Dockyard. This move is aimed at protecting critical investments in the state, particularly in the industrial and oil sectors.

According to the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, the Navy plans to establish a presence in Ogun State to secure investments and ensure the safety of critical infrastructure. He noted that Ogun State is a strategic location, being an industrial hub and a frontier state for oil exploration.

“We listen to the proposal the governor has towards developing the state, all geared towards promoting economic activities. He proposed molecular LNG and molecular blue seaport and also the development of the ‘Tongaji’ Island. These are investments that will attract a number of US dollars, up to N10bn, into the Nigerian economy. These investments can’t be without being provided security. Our duty is to make sure we fulfill this aspect, which is the provision of security,” Vice Admiral Ogalla said.

Governor Dapo Abiodun, who presented the land documents to the Navy, emphasized the need for a Naval Base and Dockyard to protect facilities, especially with the state’s attainment of frontier status for oil exploration. He highlighted the significance of the Natural Gas Project and the LNG project, which requires a naval presence due to its massive investment and strategic importance.

“In no distant time, Ogun will be declared an oil-producing state; hence, we need a Naval Base and Dockyard to protect facilities. Only about three or four months ago, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited came and declared that Ogun State had now qualified for the frontier status. They declared Ogun as one of the states that they will begin to explore oil in the frontier-based status,” Governor Abiodun said.

The establishment of the Naval Base and Dockyard is expected to commence soon, with the Navy assuring that it will do what is necessary to actualize the objective. The move is seen as a collaborative effort between the Nigerian Navy and the Ogun State government to ensure security and promote economic activities in the state.