By: Manoah Kikekon
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| Aje oli well |
Ten years have passed since crude oil first flowed from the Aje Field, located just 24 kilometres off the coast of Badagry. In 2016, this milestone officially transformed Lagos into an oil-producing state, marking the first time commercial production occurred outside the Niger Delta.
Yet, for the residents of the Badagry corridor, this "floating city at sea" has become a symbol of a persistent disconnect between national energy wealth and local economic reality.
The Aje Field, situated in OML 113 and operated by Yinka Folawiyo Petroleum, is fundamentally a gas-rich petroleum province. While initial excitement focused on crude oil, the field’s true long-term value lies in its significant resources: approximately 380 million barrels of oil equivalent, with natural gas making up over half of that potential.
Despite this strategic importance, and continuous oil production no positive impact has reflected in Badagry, leaving the people in poverty.
has frequently been hampered by mechanical issues, financing constraints, and the complex nature of offshore operations.
In an article published by De Voice on Friday it pointed out that, "for the local community, the offshore nature of the operation presents a structural challenge. Unlike land-based industrial sites, the Aje Field utilizes an FPSO (Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading) vessel, which operates like a self-contained offshore factory." These facilities typically require a highly specialized workforce—petroleum engineers, marine officers, and safety experts—who often come from national or international talent pools rather than the immediate coastal vicinity.
The question of whether Badagry has "benefited" is frequently tied to the 13% derivation fund a constitutional provision for oil-producing states. While Lagos State has received billions in derivation payments since joining the league of oil-producing states, these funds are managed at the state level.
There is no constitutional requirement for these allocations to be paid directly to host local governments, leading to a perception gap where residents see the resource offshore but feel little of the revenue onshore.
De Voice, Critics and community advocates have long raised concerns about this "offshore wealth, onshore poverty."
While the operator, Yinka Folawiyo Petroleum, has claimed to have launched initiatives such as the Aje Micro Credit Scheme to support local artisans and small business owners, many residents argue that these philanthropic efforts are only on paper, compared the large-scale industrial and infrastructural transformation they expected when the field was first declared commercial.
The frustration felt by many in Badagry is not necessarily about the absence of oil, but about the absence of opportunity.
To convert this offshore asset into broad-based prosperity, industry De Voice proposed a shift in focus:
Human Capital Development: Establishing a Petroleum Skills Academy in Badagry could bridge the gap, training local youths for specialized offshore roles and marine operations.
Industrial Infrastructure: Developing an Oil and Gas Industrial Park could attract fabrication and maintenance businesses to the Badagry corridor, creating permanent jobs onshore.
Gas-First Strategy: Prioritizing gas processing, LPG bottling, and independent power projects could leverage Aje’s gas-rich base to support domestic industries and electricity generation.
Transparency and Participation: Strengthening Community Development Agreements and ensuring transparent reporting of oil-related revenues would go a long way in restoring public trust.
Ten years after the first barrel of oil was produced, the Aje Field has successfully rewritten Lagos’ place on Nigeria’s energy map. However, the true measure of its success should not be found in production charts or export figures alone.
For the people of Badagry, the ultimate test remains whether the wealth generated at sea will finally translate into tangible, visible development schools, hospitals, roads, and sustainable jobs on their own shores.