NNPCL Moves Toward Commercial Drilling at Ogun’s Eba Oil Well

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) is moving closer to commercial drilling at the Eba oil well in Ogun State, marking a step in efforts to expand production beyond the Niger Delta.

A technical team from NNPCL visited the site in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area to assess readiness for operations after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved commercial exploration in the area.

Officials from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and security agencies joined the inspection, which focused on technical requirements, regulatory conditions and site safety ahead of drilling.

The state Governor Dapo Abiodun described the development as a major opportunity for the state, noting that drilling activity could boost local economic growth, create jobs and attract more federal investment to coastal communities.

The delegation included NNPCL’s Enserv project team led by Hussein Aliyu, alongside technical personnel working on early-stage preparations for the field.

Geological studies had earlier confirmed hydrocarbon deposits within the Ogun Waterside axis, prompting exploratory work and verification of the well’s coordinates by both federal and state authorities.

Security presence has also been strengthened around the site, with naval personnel deployed to protect the facility and surrounding communities as preparations continue.

The Eba project is part of Nigeria’s broader push to open new frontier basins, diversify oil production locations and increase domestic output while maintaining regulatory compliance, environmental safeguards and community engagement.