<P> In 2000, Ocean and Oil, a private investment company led by Nigerian entrepreneurs Adewale Tinubu and Omamofe Boyo acquired a 30% controlling interest in Unipetrol Plc . In 2001, Ocean and Oil increased its stake in Unipetrol to 42% via an irredeemable convertible loan stock issue . </P> <P> In 2002, Ocean and Oil led Unipetrol's bid for a 60% stake of Agip Nigeria Plc, a rival petroleum marketing firm, owned by Agip Petroli BV, an Italian - based oil company . The merged company was named Oando PLC in 2003, making the company the largest downstream petroleum marketing company in Nigeria . </P> <P> In 2005, Oando Energy Services was incorporated as an integrated Oilfield Services company to achieve the group's objectives in the upstream services industry . </P> <P> In 2007, Oando Energy services acquired two oil drilling rigs in Nigeria's Niger Delta . In 2008, the company emerged Nigeria's first indigenous oil company with interests in producing deep water assets through the acquisition of equity in two oil blocks . By 2009, the company had acquired 5 swamp rigs and in 2010, the company launched its first Independent Power Plant for the Lagos Water Corporation . The project involved the construction of a 12.5 MW power plant to provide uninterrupted power supply to the Lagos Water Corporation . </P>

When did oando commence operation as a petroleum marketing company