The concern of the Ogun State government to strengthen security architecture along its waterways has received a boost. Further assurance of an enhanced safety measure for the citizenry is coming from the decision by the Nigerian Navy (NN) to establish its Naval Base and Dockyard in Ode-Omi, Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of the state. Pursuant to their collaborative effort, both the state government and the Navy Command have concluded an arrangement to flag-off the ground breaking ceremony on the 100 hectares of land the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun provided for the purpose. He explained that the state government had waived all fees and charges, which amounted to several billions, and had forwarded the Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) to the naval headquarters.

A fornight ago, the Governor disclosed this in his office when he received the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Michael 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 (CNS), 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.

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

With this development, all is now set for the groundbreaking ceremony. The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr Ade Akinsanya, has already assured that the access road to the site would be prepared ahead of the event.

This arrangement could not have come at a better time than now when there is heightened suspicion that bandits, kidnappers and Boko Haram renegades who are running away from the North to seek to safe havens might have infiltrated the Southwest region. The flag-off also coincides with the state’s desire to strengthen its security along its waterways to protect the recently discovered hydrocarbon minerals (petroleum gas) in the area.

Governor Abiodun strongly believes that the establishment of the Naval Base and Dockyard in the state would send a warning signal that the security architecture in Ogun State is further strengthened and safe for more investment. He expressed confidence that the naval presence in the state would ensure that unscrupulous elements do not deny the people the economic benefits on the horizon.

“We are looking forward to the groundbreaking ceremony. I have with me pictures of works that have been ongoing to allow us access to the said property and I am told that sometime by the end of this week, the access road that is being worked on by our Ministry of Works and Infrastructure will be fully accessible

“We are going further not just in making the place accessible but in actually preparing the site for the ground breaking ceremony and it will be a befitting preparation.

“This will allow us to underscore the importance that we attach to the Nigerian Navy and how much we look forward to having their presence here to further complement our law enforcement architecture.

“We are looking forward to this ground breaking; we believe that it will send a strong signal that indeed Ogun State is ready to partner with the Navy and also that we will not be a haven for unscrupulous elements.

“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.

“With the coming of the Navy it would be a good signal that security architecture in Ogun State is further strengthened and it is a place to continue to look at for investment,” he said.

Governor Abiodun who noted that there had been steps to begin the construction of the Olokola Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Project as well as the Ogun State Deep Sea Port project in Ogun Waterside by previous administrations before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, added that the ground breaking of the Naval Base and Dockyard would further improve the economic base of the state.

“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,” he added.

Prince Abiodun acknowledged the contributions of the former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo for the role he played in ensuring the presence of the Nigerian Navy in the state, especially Tongeji Island.

“Let me put on record and thank the former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, who worked collaboratively with us to ensure that there is some Naval presence in Tongeji Island in Ipokia Local Government Area of the state. He was very determined to ensure we did that because those people in Tongeji were already wondering if they were just Nigerians in name only.

“Sadly and unfortunately, we do not have a road connection to Tongeji Island, like the Benin Republic has but the past Chief of Naval Staff ensured that we have some Naval outpost and some little jetty there in Tongeji and we are very grateful.

“I also want to thank him because it was under his watch that I made a case for the wider presence of the Nigerian Navy here and currently, we have the Secondary School and the Music School.”

In his remarks, Rear Admiral Mike 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 the presence of Naval personnel in all the waterways and creeks.

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

“We are going to set up a Naval Base where you have your new deep sea port and the gas region and we are hoping that as soon as possible, we will be getting a lot of things done in conjunction with the state government.

“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.

“I will assure His Excellency that the Naval headquarters is very disposed to ensuring that the base takes off as soon as possible,” he said.

Governor Abiodun said his administration aimed to deepen its relationship with the Nigerian Navy, especially because of the presence of Tongeji Island in Ipokia Local Government and Olokola Deep Sea Port in Ogun Waterside Local Government. According to him, these two coastal areas are of particular interest to the administration because of Tongeji Island and Olokola Deep Sea Port regions where the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) had issued oil prospecting licenses in the past.

Noting the prospect of Ogun becoming an oil-producing state, he said the recent visit of the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission, NNPCL, and the Ministry of Petroleum, leading to the declaration of Ogun State as a frontier state was an indication that the state was moving in the right direction.

In his remarks, Rear Admiral Oamen commended Governor Abiodun for the support he had been providing to the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies in the state. He said it was necessary to assist the Ogun State Government in ensuring security in its maritime space, adding that the Navy was poised to ensure that all coastal states were 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 lives 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 assured.

The ongoing collaboration between the state government and the Nigerian Navy is a further testament to the commitment of the Abiodun administration to the security of lives and business investment.

Since the inception of the present administration, the police and other security operatives have always enjoyed the support of the state government in terms of provision of gadgets and equipment. In the past five and a half years, Governor Abiodun has procured more than 200 patrol vehicles and motorcycles, as well as over 300 communication gadgets for security agencies. This is in a bid to sustain peace in the state.

Yet, the government is not relenting in its effort to ensure that residents live in a stable environment.

Not too long ago, precisely in April 2024, Ogun State Government donated 25 patrol vehicles to the state police command and also acquired surveillance drones to monitor criminal activities in all parts of the state.

While presenting the vehicles to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, at the Arcade Ground, Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Governor Abiodun said the acquisition of the drones was one of the proactive steps his administration had taken in collaboration with Lagos and Oyo states to effectively monitor activities on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to ensure prompt response in emergency situations. “Our administration will remain unwavering in our commitment to ensure that the lives and property of the people are secured, Abiodun said.

To a great extent, the drones which are being operated by trained personnel from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have contributed in no small measure to the relative peace and security in the state and beyond.

With the presence of naval base in the state, tough times lie ahead of criminal elements who may want to dare the security operatives.

Ogbonnikan writes from Abeokuta, Ogun State capital