Senator representing Ogun East, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, has assured the people of Ijebu East that the long-abandoned bitumen exploration project in the area will soon be revived under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Daniel, who gave the assurance during the BATOGD Midterm Community Assessment and Review (MIDCAR) Tour in Ijebu East Local Government on Sunday, said the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development had confirmed plans to harness the vast bitumen deposit located in the area.
According to the former Ogun State governor, the renewed focus on solid minerals under Tinubu’s administration signals a turning point for communities like Ijebu East, which he described as “sitting on untapped wealth.”
> “During my time as governor, we discovered that Ogun East has the largest deposit of bitumen anywhere in Nigeria,” Daniel said.
“Our vision then was to create a new city built around bitumen mining and processing that would attract industries, generate employment, and drive local prosperity. Unfortunately, that vision stalled after our administration — but now, with renewed attention from the Federal Government, we are returning to that dream.”
He disclosed that the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr. Dele Alake, had assured him that the Federal Government would soon commence productive exploration of bitumen in Ijebu East, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
> “Dele Alake is a trusted colleague and a man of results. Under his leadership, the solid minerals sector has recorded remarkable growth — from ₦6 billion to ₦38 billion revenue in just one year,” Daniel noted.
“This is a practical demonstration of President Tinubu’s policy that mining licences will only go to investors committed to local processing and value addition, so that the benefits stay within Nigeria.”
Daniel emphasized that his BATOGD Movement, which is also mobilizing grassroots support for Tinubu’s reelection in 2027, was not merely a political platform but a system of governance accountability.
> “The MIDCAR tour is not a political rally,” he clarified. “It is a listening and feedback session where we engage our people, assess our collective progress, and ensure that government policies are felt directly at the grassroots.”
The senator outlined several community-based interventions facilitated through his office, including the installation of a solar-powered borehole in Igbaga, Ijebu-Imushin, to provide potable water, and empowerment programmes featuring microcredit schemes, skill acquisition, and start-up grants for small businesses.
He also revealed that over 4,000 residents across the senatorial district have benefitted from his free eye-care initiative, which includes surgeries, prescription glasses, and other medical interventions.
> “These interventions are only the beginning,” Daniel said. “Real development must be inclusive, people-driven, and sustainable — reaching every household and creating opportunities for all.”
Reaffirming his commitment to transforming Ijebu East into a “beacon of industrial development,” Daniel said he would continue working with relevant ministries, investors, and stakeholders to turn the area’s natural endowments into lasting prosperity.
“Our goal is to make Ijebu East a model for Nigeria’s new industrial renaissance,” he declared. “With the support of the Federal Government and our continued engagement, we shall transform our God-given blessings into opportunities for this generation and those yet unborn.”
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