iDeemlawful—The Ogun State Government has reaffirmed its territorial authority over Eba Island in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area, rejecting claims from parts of Ondo State as misleading and capable of fuelling unnecessary communal tension.
The clarification followed public debates and a motion sponsored by Donald Ojogo, who represents Ilaje Federal Constituency in Ondo State, after President Bola Tinubu approved the commencement of drilling at an abandoned oil well on Eba Island.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, stated that Eba Island, where the approved oil well is located, falls entirely within Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of Ogun State.
Akinmade explained that state and local government boundaries in Nigeria are constitutionally defined and formally documented by the National Boundary Commission, noting that official boundary maps and records clearly place Eba Island within Ogun State.
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He said Eba is a long-established community in Ogun Waterside whose status predates Nigeria’s independence and has remained unchanged through successive political and administrative restructurings, including the 1976 state creation that carved Ogun State from the former Western State.
“Since 1976, there has been no constitutional amendment, judicial pronouncement, or federal gazette altering the boundary to place Eba outside Ogun State,” the statement said.
The government clarified that there are two separate locations known as “Eba.” While one lies close to the Ondo State forest reserve, the larger Eba Island—where the oil well approved by the President is situated—is fully within Ogun State’s coastal belt.
Akinmade noted that the presidential approval for drilling followed extensive due diligence by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and other relevant federal agencies, all of which confirmed that the oil well is located within Ogun State before clearance was granted.
He added that the deployment of national security assets, including naval formations around the drilling site, further reflects federal recognition of Ogun State as the host state.
Providing further context, the statement disclosed that in October 2024, the Molokun of Atijere in Ondo State formally approached the Osobia of Makun-Omi in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area, seeking permission to conduct business activities on Eba Island.
The request was declined and subsequently reported to the Ogun State Government, NNPCL and security agencies.
According to the government, this interaction amounted to an implicit acknowledgement of Ogun State’s jurisdiction over the area.
On historical claims being circulated, the state government described reliance on colonial documents from 1919 and 1920 as misleading, citing instead Colonial Government Gazette No. 660 of April 29, 1950, which it said clearly defined the boundary between the former Ijebu and Ondo Provinces and superseded earlier notices.
The government also referenced lease agreements, historical community records and survey documents — including the Olokola Free Trade Zone Survey Plan — as additional proof establishing Eba Island as part of Ogun State.
Administrative validation by the Independent National Electoral Commission was also cited, with the polling unit at LA Primary School, Eba, officially registered under Makun/Irokun Ward in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of Ogun State.
Akinmade said that following the discovery of hydrocarbon prospects along the coastal corridor, the Ogun State Government carried out independent verification of the well coordinates using geospatial and cartographic technology, which confirmed the wells are located within Ogun State boundaries.
He added that Ogun State has worked closely with the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and NNPCL to secure the asset and prepare it for commercial exploration, including facilitating the establishment of naval security infrastructure in the area.
While cautioning against misinformation and inflammatory narratives, the Ogun State Government called for restraint and responsible engagement by all parties.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to the rule of law, peaceful coexistence and cooperation with the Federal Government in safeguarding national assets, adding that the people of Makun-Omi Kingdom have assured authorities of their readiness to maintain peace and protect lives and property.
“The facts are clear, and the law is settled. Eba Island, where the approved oil well is located, is in Ogun State,” the statement concluded.