Ogun Govt Dismisses Boundary Claims, Insists Eba Island Oil Well Is Within Its Territory
The Ogun State Government has firmly rejected claims challenging its jurisdiction over Eba Island, insisting that the coastal community where a newly approved oil well is located lies squarely within Ogun State.
The clarification follows public debate and a motion raised by a lawmaker from Ondo State after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the commencement of drilling activities at an abandoned oil well on Eba Island.
In a statement, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, described the claims as misleading and unnecessary, stressing that Eba Island has long been recognised by constitutional, administrative and historical records as part of Ogun Waterside Local Government Area.
According to Akinmade, boundaries between States and Local Governments in Nigeria are clearly defined by law and properly documented by the National Boundary Commission (NBC). He noted that official maps and records from the commission unambiguously place Eba Island within Ogun State’s coastal corridor.
He explained that Eba is an ancient and well-established community whose existence predates Nigeria’s independence and whose administrative status has remained unchanged since the creation of Ogun State in 1976.
He added that there has been no constitutional amendment, court ruling or federal gazette altering the boundary that places Eba outside Ogun State.
The adviser further clarified that confusion may have arisen from the existence of two locations bearing the name “Eba,” noting that while one settlement is located closer to Ondo State, the larger Eba Island hosting the oil well approved for drilling lies entirely within Ogun State waters.
Akinmade emphasised that the presidential approval for drilling followed comprehensive due diligence by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and other relevant federal agencies, all of which confirmed Ogun State as the host state before clearance was granted.
He added that the deployment of Naval and other security formations around the drilling site further underscores federal recognition of Ogun State’s jurisdiction over the Area.
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 to seek permission to conduct business activities on Eba Island.
The request was declined and reported to the Ogun State Government, NNPCL and security agencies, which the state described as a tacit acknowledgment of Ogun’s authority over the island.
On historical arguments being circulated in some quarters, the Ogun State Government dismissed reliance on early colonial notices from 1919 and 1920 as misleading, pointing instead to Colonial Government Gazette No. 660 of April 29, 1950, which clearly defined the boundary between the former Ijebu and Ondo Provinces and superseded earlier documents.
The State also cited lease agreements, historical community records, survey documents and the Olokola Free Trade Zone Survey Plan as further evidence establishing Eba Island as part of Ogun State.
Administrative validation by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was also referenced, with records showing 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 revealed that following the discovery of hydrocarbon prospects along the coast, Ogun State carried out independent verification of the well’s coordinates using modern geospatial and cartographic technology, confirming that the oil wells are located within Ogun State boundaries.
He added that Ogun 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 cautioning against the spread of misinformation and inflammatory narratives, the Ogun State Government called for restraint and responsible engagement by all parties, reiterating its commitment to the rule of law, peaceful coexistence and cooperation with the Federal Government in safeguarding National assets.
“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.
