LAGOS State may soon join the league of oil producers in the country, as no fewer than six oil companies have concluded plans to commence exploration of the black gold, assessed to be in commercial quantity in the former federal capital territory.
Besides, the state has also strategised to bolster its non-oil revenue generation through exploitation of some solid minerals.
Among the resources, which exploratory activities have begun include oil, silica sand, bitumen, limestone, kaolin.
Speaking with journalists in his office recently, officials of the Office of Special Adviser on Mineral Resources Development (OSAMRD) said that the state would soon witness the exploration of petroleum products in the state.
According to the Acting Permanent Secretary in OSAMRD, Mr. Olabode Blaise, more than four firms had been issued an oil prospecting licences (OPL). The firms include Folawiyo Nigeria Limited, which had discovered oil in Dahomey Basin area of Badagry.
Four oil wells were said to have been discovered in the axis known as Aje One, Aje Two, Aje Three and Aje Four.
Blaise said that the discovery of oil in the Dahomey region by Folawiyo had propelled other investors to apply for OPL, which had been issued to them.
The other firms are Sunlink, which has OPL311, Oil World OPL 241 Oando, OPL 325, Korea, National Oil Corporation, issued with the OPL 321 and 323 and the Marine Oil and Gas, which has OPL 454. Crownwell was said to have obtained OPL 305 and 306, while British Oil and Gas received licence on OPL 332.
According to the OSARMD officials, issuance of OPL is to carry out exploration, while upon a successful exercise, oil mining licence (OML) would then be issued to them, a feat which Folawiyo firm was said to have achieved.
Beside petroleum products, silica sand, which an enormous amount was found in Lekki and Badagry, is said to be a major raw materials for producing fibre glasses, bottle and other materials in that category.
Blaise said that the office had brought some foreign embassies to the site and that discussions had commenced on the exploration of the minerals.
“Besides, we have discussions with the National Association of Small Scale Industries on how to explore these abundant resources; not only for the revenue purposes for the state, but rather, to forge a new business and industrial frontiers which is capable of creating an enormous wealth and employment opportunities for our teeming youths.”
Apart from the small-scale industrial officials, the office has also been in talks with the management of Nigerite, the major producer of asbestos and other building materials.
Some of these sands, according to him, were suitable for the production of asbestos, roofing sheets and other materials in that category.
“Infact, Nigerite has shown serious interest in the business. And we believed that with the vision, clarity and sincerity of purpose of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola and his policies, many of these prospective manufacturers and embassies have shown some modicum of commitment.”
Apart from the above, another area which full exploration and exploitation is receiving government attention is bitu-men and kaolin.
For instance, it has been discovered that there are lots of deposit of Kaolin in Igando. Kaolin is the major raw material for producing chalk, plaster of paris (POP) and some aspect of building materials such as paints
Bitumen, another money spinning material is also getting attention by the state government. The officials said that an intensive research was going on to locate where the product is available in a large quantity.
Similarly, a large deposit of limestone was said to have been found between Ikorodu and Ewekoro axis. “Though, Ewekoro falls within the Ogun State territory, but we have discovered a substantial deposit of the material in Ikorodu/ Odongunyan area of the state.”
Other materials, which have been yielding a lot of money for the state are laterite, sand and gravels.
Apart from sand mining, which is the exclusive reserve of the Ministry of Water Front Development and Infrastructure, excavation of laterite, gravel and sharp sand, are going on in places like Ikorodu, Epe, Ito-Ikin and Badagry areas of the state.
However, the major challenges that the acting permanent secretary said that government would ensure to nip in the bud are conflicts between the miners and their host communities.
“The present administration is a law abiding government. The governor is somebody who does only believed in the rule of law, but also believed in carrying people along with his programmes and policies. So, before we embark on any project, the necessary thing such as environmental impact assessment (EIA) must be carried out which would address the possible pains of the people.”
On the damage of the infrastructure by the sand diggers along the Ikorodu/Ito-Ikin/Epe axis, the acting director of monitoring said that maintenance of sites was a necessity that the diggers must ensure.
Both the state of the aforementioned roads in the past six-week is deplorable. Heavy trucks and caterpillars that are plying these roads have done an incalculable damage on them.
For instance, from Ito-Ikin/Itamage in Ikorodu and Kety-Sala to Epe, the number of normal vehicles plying the routes daily cannot be more than 200-300. But since these trucks an caterpillars started their operations six months ago, they have done a lot of damage to the roads,” says an official of Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) Epe Unit, who spoke with The Guardian on the condition of anonymity.