The Ogun State Government has reiterated that Eba Island, the location of a newly approved oil drilling site, falls within its territorial jurisdiction, rejecting contrary claims from some interests in neighbouring Ondo State.
The clarification comes amid growing public discourse following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval for the resumption of drilling at an abandoned oil well on Eba Island. The debate was further heightened by a motion raised in the House of Representatives by Hon. Donald Kimikanboh Ojogo, who represents Ilaje Federal Constituency in Ondo State.
In a statement released on Sunday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, said the state was compelled to set the record straight to prevent the spread of misinformation and possible communal unrest.
According to Akinmade, Eba Island is an established community located within Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of Ogun State, a position that is clearly reflected in official records of the National Boundary Commission (NBC). He noted that Nigeria’s state and local government boundaries are constitutionally defined and supported by authoritative maps and documents, all of which, he said, place Eba Island within Ogun State.
He explained that Eba has existed as a recognised settlement long before Nigeria’s independence and has retained its administrative status through various political and structural changes, including the 1976 state creation exercise that led to the emergence of Ogun State from the old Western Region.
Akinmade stressed that since 1976, there has been no constitutional amendment, court judgment or federal gazette altering the boundary in a manner that would place Eba Island outside Ogun State.
The state government further clarified that confusion may have arisen due to the existence of two locations bearing the name “Eba.” While one is a smaller settlement near a forest reserve in Ondo State, Akinmade said the Eba Island in question—the site of the oil well approved by the President—is situated entirely within Ogun State’s coastal axis.
He added that the approval granted by President Tinubu followed extensive technical and administrative checks by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and other relevant federal agencies, which confirmed Ogun State as the host state before drilling clearance was issued.
According to him, the presence of federal security formations, including naval assets deployed to secure the drilling area, further underscores federal recognition of Ogun State’s jurisdiction over the island.
Providing historical context, Akinmade disclosed that in October 2024, the Molokun of Atijere in Ondo State reportedly sought permission from the Osobia of Makun-Omi in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area to carry out certain activities on Eba Island. The request was declined and reported to state authorities, NNPCL and security agencies. The Ogun State Government described the move as an implicit acknowledgement of Ogun’s authority over the island.
The government also dismissed reliance on colonial-era documents from 1919 and 1920 being circulated to support contrary claims, describing them as outdated and superseded. It cited Colonial Government Gazette No. 660 of April 29, 1950, which, it said, clearly defined the boundary between the former Ijebu and Ondo Provinces.
Additional evidence referenced by the state included historical lease agreements, community records, survey documents such as those used for the Olokola Free Trade Zone, and administrative validation by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The state noted that the polling unit at LA Primary School, Eba, is officially registered under Makun/Irokun Ward in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of Ogun State.
Akinmade further revealed that following the confirmation of hydrocarbon prospects in the coastal corridor, the Ogun State Government conducted an independent verification of the oil well coordinates using geospatial and cartographic tools. The findings, he said, reaffirmed that the wells are located within Ogun State boundaries.
He added that the state has been working 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, the Ogun State Government warned against the circulation of inflammatory narratives capable of fueling tension between neighbouring communities. It reaffirmed its commitment to the rule of law, peaceful coexistence and collaboration with the Federal Government in protecting national assets.
The government also said traditional authorities and residents of Makun-Omi Kingdom have assured security agencies of their readiness to maintain peace and safeguard lives and property.
“The position is unambiguous, both legally and administratively. Eba Island where the approved oil well is located is part of Ogun State,” the statement concluded.
