𝗦𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗢𝗻𝗱𝗼 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝘁 𝗧𝗼 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗗𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗢𝗶𝗹 𝗙𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱𝘀 𝗜𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲

𝗕𝗬 𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗧𝗔 𝗩𝗢𝗜𝗖𝗘,

𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗮, 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮.

Ondo State Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has called for the immediate revival of a long-inactive oil asset in the state, stressing that renewed investment and improved infrastructure are critical to boosting Nigeria’s crude oil production.

Governor Aiyedatiwa made the call when he received executives of Sahara Energy Group on a courtesy visit to the Governor’s Office in Akure.

The meeting focused on plans to reactivate an oil field in Ondo State that has remained dormant since 1998, with stakeholders discussing strategies to unlock its production potential.

The governor said the development of Ondo’s oil resources would contribute significantly to Nigeria’s target of increasing crude oil output from about 1.6 million barrels per day to 2 million barrels per day.

According to him, Ondo State, currently ranked among Nigeria’s oil-producing states, has the potential to improve its position if its oil assets are properly developed and managed.

Recalling a past fire incident at the oil field, Aiyedatiwa questioned the explanation given at the time that there was no active oil operation at the site.

He said: “I remember when there was a fire outbreak in that very well, and then I was in NDDC as the representative of the state. They claimed then that there was no operation in that place, that there’s no oil. I was like, how can a place with no oil be on fire?”

The governor identified leakages, outdated systems, and operational inefficiencies as some of the challenges affecting production, adding that digitalisation and improved monitoring systems would help reduce human errors and increase output.

He assured investors that Ondo State remains peaceful and ready to support oil exploration and production activities.

Aiyedatiwa also disclosed that the state government had awarded dredging contracts aimed at improving waterways and easing access to production locations, while additional interventions were being planned for host communities.

Earlier, Sahara Energy Executive Director, Kola Adesina, said the company was carrying out technical evaluations and integrity tests on the asset to determine the requirements needed for its full reactivation.

Adesina described the oil field as a stranded asset that had not been fully utilised for the benefit of the people since it stopped operating in 1998.

“The asset we have here, the last time it was operated was 1998. Of course, it simply means that’s a stranded asset that has not been unlocked fully to the advantage of the people,” he said.

He commended the Ondo State Government for its support and said Sahara Energy was committed to responsible development, technology-driven operations, and partnerships that would benefit host communities and other stakeholders.

The meeting was attended by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Olayide Adelami; Chief of Staff, Prince Segun Omojuwa; Commissioner for Finance, Mrs. Omowunmi Isaac; Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Engr. Johnson Alabi; Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperative Services, Pastor Bola Ademuwagun; Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Tob Loko; and ONDIPA Chief Executive Officer, Barr. Emmanuel Omomowo.