Abiodun defends Dangote Refinery record, reaffirms commitment to Ogun Deep Sea Port

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, denied claims that he was responsible for moving the Dangote Refinery from Ogun State to Lagos. He said the decision had been made before he took office and reiterated his administration’s commitment to the Deep Sea Port project in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area.

The governor also announced that oil exploration and drilling have begun in Eba, Ogun Waterside, as part of efforts to make Ogun an oil‑producing state.

Abiodun made the comments while the six‑kilometre Stadium–Luba–Tam Balogun Road was commissioned in Ijebu‑Ode Local Government Area.

“We are working tirelessly on our port project. The Deep Sea Port is on course, and Ogun State will have one of the deepest and longest ports in Sub‑Saharan Africa, if not the entire continent,” he said. “It will boast the longest berth in Sub‑Saharan Africa. Very soon, we will unveil full details of the project.”

He recalled his campaign promise to turn Ogun into an oil‑producing state, noting that the state has long possessed significant oil deposits that had remained untapped. “During my campaign, I promised that Ogun State would become an oil‑producing state under my administration. The oil we are now working to establish in commercial quantities has always been here. Previous administrations had the opportunity, but it is under my tenure that meaningful progress is being made,” he stated.

Addressing the controversy over the refinery, Abiodun said those who managed the state at the time should be held accountable for its relocation. “A few days ago, I saw reports on social media claiming that just as Dapo Abiodun allowed the refinery project to leave Ogun State, he has also abandoned the Deep Sea Port project,” he said. “First, was I the governor when the refinery was moved to Lagos? If anything, I did everything within my capacity to retain the refinery in Ogun State, but others, through their irresponsibility, allowed the project to slip away.”

The governor highlighted several landmark projects in Ogun East Senatorial District, including the federal takeover of Tai Solarin University of Education, the development of the Dry Port, ongoing oil exploration activities, and the reconstruction of the Sagamu–Ijebu‑Ode Expressway.

He disclosed that more than 26 roads have been completed in Ijebu‑Ode since his administration declared an emergency on road infrastructure in the area, and 12 additional road projects are currently under construction.

Governor Abiodun urged residents to take ownership of the newly commissioned road and to refrain from dumping refuse in drainage channels, noting that the project was funded with taxpayers’ money. He expressed confidence that the road would boost economic activities and improve residents’ quality of life.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Ade Akinsanya, said the road project, which features reinforced concrete drains, kerbs and road markings, reflects the administration’s commitment to providing durable infrastructure across the state. He noted that the road would improve connectivity within Ijebu‑Ode and adjoining communities while stimulating economic activities in the area.

The Chief Economic Adviser and Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Dapo Okubadejo, described Governor Abiodun as a silent achiever whose developmental initiatives, including the Deep Sea Port and Dry Port projects, are transforming Ogun State’s economic landscape.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Ogun State Elders Council, Chief Olusegun Okuboyejo, commended the governor for ensuring equitable distribution of development projects across the state and pledged the council’s continued support.

The Chairman of Ijebu‑Ode Local Government, Hon. Dare Alebiosu, said the area had witnessed unprecedented infrastructural development under the current administration, adding that the projects had significantly improved the local economy.

Speaking on behalf of traditional rulers present at the event, the Elese of Ilese, Oba Obayomi Olufemi, praised the governor for the positive transformation taking place across Ijebuland and urged him to sustain the momentum by initiating more people‑oriented projects and completing ongoing projects.