The Nigerian Navy and Ogun government are to flag-off a naval base and dockyard at Ode-Omi in Ogun Waterside Local Council of the state.

Governor Abiodun also stated that the state government has waived all fees and charges, which amounted to several billions, and has forwarded the Certificate of Occupancy to the Naval headquarters.

The Governor made this statement in his office when he received the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Mike Oamen, in his Oke-Mosan Office, Abeokuta.

He said: “In view of the prospective activities that we are envisaging in our riverine areas, the former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, gladly obliged us and accepted that it is important for us to have a naval base and a dockyard in Ogun State.

“We proceeded to make different positions available, and at that time, a committee was set up between members of the Nigerian Navy and the state government to identify locations that would be acceptable to the Nigerian Navy.

“Subsequently, a location was identified in Ogun Waterside, and we allocated a parcel of land, 100 hectares, for the purpose of setting up this facility.

“We have since completed the formalities of allocating the parcel of land to the Nigerian Navy.

“We have waived all fees and charges, which amounted to several billions, and have since forwarded the Certificate of Occupancy for that parcel of land to the Naval headquarters.”

Governor Abiodun noted that the access road to the Naval Base and Dockyard would be ready by the end of the week.

The Governor further disclosed that the state is looking forward to the groundbreaking ceremony for the Naval Base and Dockyard, adding that it is important to have a Naval presence in the state to ensure that unscrupulous elements do not take advantage of all the economic benefits that are on the horizon.

“The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure is here, and he has briefed me that sometime by the end of this week, on or before, the access road to Ode-Omi, which is where the site for the Naval Base and Dockyard is located, will be ready, and the site itself will be prepared for groundbreaking.

“We did not make as much progress as we anticipated because of the rains; however, since the rain stopped, we have begun to work on the access to the place and also the site itself,” he said.

Governor Abiodun, who noted that his administration has been very particular about deepening its relationship with the Nigerian Navy, added that the state is a coastal state because of the presence of Tongeji Island in Ipokia Local Government and Olokola Deep Sea Port in Ogun Waterside Local Government.

The Governor further stated that these two coastal areas are of particular interest to his administration because Tongeji Island and Olokola Deep Sea Port are regions where the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) had issued oil prospecting licenses in the past.

Abiodun, while noting that the prospect of Ogun becoming an oil-producing state is high, said that the recent visit of the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission, NNPCL, and the Ministry of Petroleum to declare the state a frontier state is a huge indication that the state is moving in the right direction.

In his remarks, Rear Admiral Oamen commended Governor Abiodun for the support he has been providing to the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies in the state.

He also noted that it was necessary to assist the Ogun State Government in ensuring security in its maritime space, adding that the Navy is poised to ensure that all coastal states are free from unscrupulous elements by maintaining a presence of Naval personnel in all the waterways and creeks.

“The Ogun State Governor has taken the security of life and property of residents and indigenes of the state very seriously, and the Nigerian Navy is very ready to support this effort.

“The Naval Base is part of the Chief of Naval Staff’s plan, and very soon work will commence there. Be assured that the Navy will be fully on the ground in Ogun State,” he said.