Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has disclosed that the abandoned OKLNG project in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of the state is set to be revived.
Governor Abiodun made this known during the commissioning of the Gao-Ibiade Road in the local government area, revealing that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has informed him of its intention to revisit the project.
The governor also assured residents that the proposed Deep Sea Port would become a reality, noting that concrete steps are already being taken to actualise the project, which he described as one of the most strategic maritime developments on the African continent.
Abiodun further disclosed that the crude oil discovered in the area has been adjudged among the best grades available, adding that plans are underway for the development of a refinery, deep seaport, naval base, and dockyard within the council area.
According to him, the reconstruction of the Gao-Ibiade Road is part of the state’s preparations for the anticipated surge in economic activities in Ogun Waterside, which he described as a jewel that must be fully harnessed for the benefit of the state and the nation.
While acknowledging the significant infrastructural development recorded across Ogun State over the past seven years, the governor maintained that his administration has remained committed to spreading development evenly across all 20 local government areas of the state.
He announced that his administration would soon commence the reconstruction of the J4-Gao Road, while the remaining stretch would be extended to Abigi, the headquarters of Ogun Waterside Local Government.
Speaking during an on-the-spot assessment of projects in the area, Governor Abiodun recalled the poor state of infrastructure that previously characterised the local government but expressed satisfaction that it is gradually emerging as an economic hub for both Ogun State and Nigeria.
“We are preparing for the imminent explosion of economic activities that is about to happen in this local government area. Ogun Waterside is a jewel that must be fully tapped,” the governor stated.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Ade Akinsanya, said the road, which had been in a deplorable condition for many years, was reconstructed to boost economic activities in the area.
He assured residents that the project was executed to the highest standards and would stand the test of time.
Also speaking, the member representing Ijebu North, Ijebu East and Ogun Waterside Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Joseph Adegbesan, commended the governor for the project and appealed for the reconstruction of the road from J4 Junction to Iwopin, as well as the second phase of the Gao-Ibiade Road, to further unlock the economic potential of the area.
Similarly, the member representing Ogun Waterside State Constituency in the Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Shamsideen Adekunle Lawal, lauded Governor Abiodun for extending the dividends of democracy to the people of the local government.
He noted that work has commenced on the Deep Sea Port and Naval Base projects, while oil drilling activities are already ongoing in the area.
Tinubu Signs New NIMC Law, Gives Nigeria Single Digital Identity Framework
President Bola Tinubu has signed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act, 2026 into law, repealing the 2007 legislation and ushering in a new legal framework aimed at creating a secure, interoperable and inclusive digital identity ecosystem for Nigeria.
The landmark legislation significantly expands the powers of the National Identity Management Commission by designating it as the Root Certification Authority for Nigeria’s National Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), effectively placing the Commission at the centre of the country’s digital identity, authentication and electronic trust architecture.
The new law also reinforces the National Identification Number (NIN) as Nigeria’s foundational identity credential under the principle of “One Person, One Identity,” while empowering NIMC to facilitate secure and seamless data exchange among government institutions, financial organisations and private-sector entities.
The reforms are expected to strengthen digital governance, improve public service delivery, enhance cybersecurity and support the federal government’s ambition of building a one-trillion-dollar economy through technology-driven growth.
In a statement on Friday, NIMC described the legislation as the most significant overhaul of Nigeria’s identity management framework since the Commission was established nearly two decades ago.
According to the Commission, the rapid expansion of digital services, e-governance, electronic commerce, data protection requirements and evolving cyber threats made it imperative to replace the old law with a more robust and future-oriented legal framework aligned with international best practices.
Under the new Act, NIMC will be responsible for establishing and maintaining Nigeria’s National Public Key Infrastructure and Digital Public Infrastructure, providing trusted authentication systems, digital signatures, digital certificates, encryption services and identity verification frameworks designed to improve confidence in digital transactions and online services.
The legislation also introduces stronger safeguards for personal data and privacy in alignment with the Nigeria Data Protection Act and global standards, while prescribing stringent penalties for multiple registrations, identity theft, impersonation and other identity-related offences.
In a major inclusion initiative, the law introduces an innovative identifier system for vulnerable persons and mandates special measures to facilitate the enrolment of underserved populations, including individuals without permanent residences.
The Act further recognises both physical and digital identity credentials, all securely linked to an individual’s National Identification Number, thereby expanding opportunities for digital transactions and service delivery.
NIMC said the implementation of the new framework would enable faster and more secure identity verification, greater financial and digital inclusion, improved interoperability across government and private-sector platforms, and enhanced ease of doing business.
The Commission expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for what it described as his visionary leadership in signing the legislation, noting that the reform would strengthen the protection of citizens’ data, improve cybersecurity, expand access to essential services and provide a robust foundation for Nigeria’s digital economy and long-term national development.
It also commended the leadership and members of the National Assembly, the Ministry of Interior, development partners and stakeholders whose contributions facilitated the passage of the legislation.
NIMC said it would subsequently issue regulations and guidelines necessary for the full implementation of the Act while engaging government institutions, the private sector and development partners to ensure a seamless transition to the new legal framework.
