The commencement of oil drilling in Tongji marks a historic moment for Ogun State. It is a milestone many believed would take decades to arrive, and it deserves recognition. Ogun State can be congratulated for reaching this point, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu deserves commendation for creating a national environment that supports exploration, investment, and the expansion of Nigeria’s resource base beyond its traditional centers.
This development signals opportunity but it also places a heavy responsibility on all stakeholders.
Across Nigeria’s history, oil has been both a blessing and a burden. It has funded development and national growth, yet it has also left deep scars where foresight and accountability were absent. As drilling prepares to begin in Tongji, Ogun State stands at a crossroads where wise choices will determine whether this discovery becomes a legacy of progress or a cautionary tale.
In Yoruba philosophy, Ogun is the deity of iron, technology, and industry but also of discipline, justice, and restraint. Ogun rewards work done with care and truth, and punishes recklessness. These values must guide this new chapter.
Safety must come before speed or profit.
Oil extraction involves volatile materials and complex machinery. Strong safety standards, proper worker training, and enforceable regulations are essential. One preventable accident can cost lives and erode public trust. Development that sacrifices human life is no development at all.
The land and water must be protected.
Tongji’s environment sustains farming, livelihoods, and daily survival. Groundwater, rivers, and farmlands must be safeguarded against pollution, spills, and gas flaring. Environmental impact assessments must be ongoing and independently monitored not treated as a one-time formality. Ogun State has the advantage of learning from the painful experiences of other oil-producing regions; it must not repeat their mistakes.
Host communities must be partners, not bystanders.
The people of Tongji deserve transparency, consultation, and respect. Fair compensation for land use, local employment opportunities, and skills development are critical. Oil taken from beneath a community’s soil must translate into visible improvements in that community’s quality of life. Inclusion builds stability; exclusion breeds resentment.
Transparency and accountability are non-negotiable.
President Tinubu has repeatedly emphasized reform, investment confidence, and accountability. These principles must be reflected at the state and local levels. Agreements with oil companies should be clear and open to scrutiny, and revenues must be invested in public goods education, healthcare, infrastructure, and environmental protection. Secrecy is the breeding ground of corruption.
Preparedness for environmental emergencies is a moral duty.
Oil spills and industrial accidents are not theoretical risks. Response plans, equipment, and trained personnel must be in place before drilling begins. When damage occurs, responsibility must be clear and action swift. Communities should not be left to suffer while institutions debate liability.
Cultural and ancestral heritage must be respected.
Land in Tongji is not merely economic it is ancestral and spiritual. Sacred sites and cultural heritage must be identified and protected. Development that erases identity ultimately undermines social harmony.
Oil, by itself, is neither a curse nor a blessing. It becomes one or the other through leadership choices.
As Ogun State steps into this new era and as the Federal Government supports expanded exploration under President Tinubu’s leadership this is the moment to choose wisdom over haste, transparency over secrecy, and long-term well-being over short-term gain.
As the drills prepare to turn in Tongji, Ogun must remember: iron builds when guided by discipline, but careless iron destroys.
Otunba Segun Showunmi is the Founder of The Alternative.
