The Ogun State Government has firmly restated its territorial authority over Eba Island in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area, dismissing claims linking the area to Ondo State as inaccurate and potentially capable of igniting unnecessary communal tension.
The clarification comes amid heightened public discourse following a motion raised by Hon. Donald Kimikanboh Ojogo, who represents Ilaje Federal Constituency in Ondo State, after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the resumption of drilling activities at an abandoned oil well located on Eba Island.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, said the island hosting the approved oil well is unequivocally part of Ogun State, contrary to suggestions from some quarters.
According to Akinmade, Nigeria’s inter-state and local government boundaries are constitutionally defined and formally documented by the National Boundary Commission (NBC), with official maps and records clearly situating Eba Island within Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of Ogun State.
He explained that Eba is a long-established coastal community whose existence predates Nigeria’s independence and whose status has remained intact through successive administrative restructurings, including the 1976 state-creation exercise that led to the emergence of Ogun State from the former Western State.
“Since 1976, there has been no constitutional amendment, judicial pronouncement or federal gazette that altered the boundary placing Eba outside Ogun State,” the statement said.
The Ogun State Government further clarified that confusion often arises from the existence of two locations bearing the name “Eba.” While one is situated near the Ondo State forest reserve, the larger Eba Island, where the oil well approved by the President is located, lies entirely within Ogun State’s coastal belt.
Akinmade noted that the presidential approval for drilling followed rigorous due diligence by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and other relevant federal agencies, all of which confirmed Ogun State as the host jurisdiction before authorisation was granted.
He added that the deployment of federal security assets, including naval formations around the drilling site, further underscores federal recognition of Ogun State’s jurisdiction over the area.
Providing historical context, the statement revealed that in October 2024, the Molokun of Atijere in Ondo State formally sought permission from the Osobia of Makun-Omi in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area to conduct business activities on Eba Island. The request was declined and subsequently reported to the Ogun State Government, NNPCL and relevant security agencies.
According to the state government, that interaction amounted to a tacit acknowledgment of Ogun State’s authority over the island.
On claims rooted in colonial-era documents from 1919 and 1920, the government described such references as misleading, pointing instead to Colonial Government Gazette No. 660 of April 29, 1950**, which definitively delineated the boundary between the former Ijebu and Ondo Provinces and superseded earlier notices.
The state also cited lease agreements, historical community records and survey documents—including the Olokola Free Trade Zone Survey Plan—as additional evidence supporting Ogun State’s claim.
Administrative recognition by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was also highlighted, 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 disclosed that following the discovery of hydrocarbon prospects along the coastal corridor, the Ogun State Government conducted an independent verification of the oil well coordinates using geospatial and cartographic tools, which confirmed that the wells fall within Ogun State boundaries.
He added that the state has worked closely with the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and NNPCL to secure the asset and prepare it for commercial exploration, including facilitating the establishment of naval security infrastructure in the area.
While urging restraint and responsible engagement, the Ogun State Government warned against the spread of misinformation and inflammatory narratives, reiterating its commitment to the rule of law and peaceful coexistence.
The statement added that the people of Makun-Omi Kingdom have assured authorities of their readiness to maintain peace and safeguard 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.
