The Ogun State Government has restated that Eba Island, located in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area, remains firmly within its territorial boundaries, rejecting claims from some individuals in neighbouring Ondo State as inaccurate and capable of causing unnecessary tension between communities.
The clarification comes amid public discussions following a motion raised by Donald Ojogo, a member of the House of Representatives for Ilaje Federal Constituency in Ondo State, after President Bola Tinubu authorised the resumption of drilling operations at an abandoned oil well situated on the island.
In a statement released on Sunday, the Governor’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, said official records clearly show that the oil well and the island hosting it fall under Ogun State’s jurisdiction.
He explained that Nigeria’s interstate and local government boundaries are legally defined and maintained by the National Boundary Commission, noting that government maps and documentation place Eba Island squarely within Ogun Waterside.
According to him, Eba is not a new settlement but a long-standing community whose status dates back to before Nigeria’s independence and has remained unchanged through various administrative reforms, including the creation of Ogun State in 1976.
“There has been no constitutional change, court ruling, or federal gazette that has transferred Eba from Ogun State to any other state,” the statement said.
The government further clarified that there are two separate locations bearing the name “Eba.” One lies close to the Ondo forest reserve, while the larger Eba Island — where the approved oil facility is located — sits entirely within Ogun’s coastal area.
Akinmade added that the presidential approval for drilling followed thorough assessments by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and other federal agencies, all of which verified the site’s location within Ogun State before granting clearance.
He said the presence of naval security around the drilling area also reflects federal acknowledgment of Ogun as the host state.
Providing additional background, the government disclosed that in October 2024, the Molokun of Atijere in Ondo State sought permission from the Osobia of Makun-Omi in Ogun Waterside to carry out business activities on the island. The request was declined and reported to the Ogun State authorities and relevant security agencies, an action the government described as an implicit recognition of Ogun’s control over the area.
The statement also dismissed references to colonial-era documents from 1919 and 1920, describing them as outdated. Instead, it cited Colonial Government Gazette No. 660 issued in April 1950, which clearly defined the boundary between the former Ijebu and Ondo provinces.
Other supporting evidence listed by the government includes historical records, land leases, survey documents, and the Olokola Free Trade Zone survey plan, all of which identify Eba Island as part of Ogun State.
Electoral records from the Independent National Electoral Commission were also mentioned, showing that the polling unit at LA Primary School, Eba, is officially registered under Makun/Irokun Ward in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area.
Following reports of hydrocarbon deposits in the coastal corridor, the state government said it independently confirmed the well’s coordinates using modern mapping and geospatial tools, which again indicated that the site lies within Ogun territory.
Ogun State also stated that it has been working with the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and NNPCL to secure the facility and prepare it for commercial operations, including the installation of naval security structures.
While urging residents and stakeholders to avoid spreading misleading information, the government called for calm and responsible engagement to prevent conflict.
It reiterated its commitment to peaceful coexistence, adherence to the law, and collaboration with federal authorities in protecting national resources. Leaders of the Makun-Omi Kingdom were also said to have pledged support for maintaining peace and safeguarding lives and property.
“The facts are straightforward and supported by law. Eba Island, where the oil well is located, belongs to Ogun State,” the statement concluded.
