Sahara Energy begins oil exploration in Ondo State

.Gov Aiyedatiwa enthused, rallies more investors
.FG licenses company to manage two oil fields in Ilaje area
By Adedotun Ajayi
The Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has said the state is open to investors as part of efforts to drive economic growth and development of the state.
The Governor made this assertion during a meeting with the management board of Sahara Energy at his office in Akure, on Tuesday.

Sahara Energy has just been licensed by the federal government through the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) to manage two new oil fields (PPL 270 and PPL 271) in the riverine communities of Ilaje Local Government area of the state.
During the meeting, Governor Aiyedatiwa expressed gratitude for Sahara Energy’s commitment to investing in Ondo State, emphasizing the state’s readiness to provide an enabling environment for their operations to thrive.
“Ondo State is lucky at this time,” the governor said. “Although licenses are issued by the federal government, we assure you of our full support to ensure your activities flourish. We remain committed to maintaining Ondo as the safest state in the country and fostering an investor-friendly climate”, he added.
The governor noted that the government alone cannot achieve comprehensive development in the region and reiterated the state’s openness to more investors.
Governor Aiyedatiwa appealed to the host communities to provide the necessary support and enabling environment for the oil company to operate smoothly, for the benefit of the state and the communities.
Earlier, in his address, the Chairman of the Board of Sahara Energy, Engr. Funsho Kupolokun, described the visit as a crucial step toward kickstarting the operations of the company in the state.
Kupolokun, who hails from Ondo State, is a former Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
Kupolokun stated, “We are here to share good news with the Ondo State Government, and it must begin with His Excellency.
“Before commencing operations, we seek the governor’s permission and blessings to ensure a smooth working relationship with the state.”
Commending the governor for making the state an investor-friendly destination, Kupolokun assured him that Sahara Energy would adhere to all state rules and regulations.
In attendance at the meeting were the Deputy Governor, Dr. Olayide Adelami; Chief of Staff, Prince Segun Omojuwa; Head of Service, Mr. Bayo Philips, and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Kayode Ajulo, SAN.
2…..Lassa Fever: 54 new cases,10 deaths recorded in one week
Nigeria has confirmed 54 new cases of Lassa fever and 10 deaths in one week, spanning 30 December 2024 to 5 January 2025.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) made this known in the latest situation report published on its website for week one, 2025.
The infectious disease agency noted that in the reporting week, the number of new confirmed cases decreased from 70 in week 52 of 2024 to 54.
It added that the number of suspected cases increased compared to that reported for the same period in 2024.
Cumulatively, the report shows that Nigeria recorded 10 deaths with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 18.5 per cent which is higher than the CFR for the same period in 2024 (11.3 per cent).
According to the report, six states have recorded at least one confirmed case across 20 LGAs in 2025.
They are Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, Ebonyi and Kogi states.
It added that 78 per cent of all the confirmed cases were recorded from three states of Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi.
Of the 78 per cent of confirmed cases, Ondo State accounted for 35 per cent; Edo for 28 per cent, and Bauchi for 15 per cent
It noted that no health worker was infected in the reporting week, adding that people between the ages of 20 and 31 are predominantly affected by the disease.
In 2024, Nigeria recorded a significant number of Lassa fever cases, with 9,685 suspected cases, 1,187 confirmed cases, and 191 deaths across 28 states and 138 LGAs.
This surge in cases is consistent with the typical peak season for Lassa fever, which usually occurs during the dry season, from December to April.
NCDC highlighted some of its challenges in the fight against Lassa fever.
The challenges include the late presentation of cases leading to increased CFR and poor health-seeking behaviour.
The latter may be due to the high cost of treatment and clinical management of Lassa fever.
Others are poor environmental sanitation conditions observed in high-burden communities and poor awareness observed in high-burden communities.
Lassa Fever
Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness transmitted to humans through contact with food or household items contaminated by infected rodents or contaminated persons.
Its symptoms include fever, headache, sore throat, general body weakness, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle pains, chest pain, and, in severe cases, unexplainable bleeding from ears, eyes, nose, mouth, and other body openings.