The Ogun State Government has firmly dismissed claims suggesting that Eba Island, an oil-bearing community, belongs to Ondo State, insisting that the territory is an integral part of Ogun Waterside Local Government Area.
The state government described the claims as inaccurate and potentially capable of fuelling unnecessary communal tension, particularly following President Bola Tinubu’s approval for oil drilling activities at an abandoned well located on the island.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, said Eba Island falls clearly within Ogun State’s constitutional boundaries, as recognised by federal authorities.
Akinmade explained that Nigeria’s inter-state boundaries are well documented and regulated by the National Boundary Commission, adding that all official records and maps place Eba Island within Ogun Waterside Local Government Area.
He said Eba has existed as a recognised community long before Nigeria’s independence and that its status has remained unchanged through successive administrative and political restructurings, including the 1976 state creation exercise that established Ogun State.
“Since the creation of Ogun State in 1976, there has been no constitutional amendment, court ruling, or federal gazette that altered the boundary in a way that removes Eba Island from Ogun State,” the statement said.
Clarifying the source of the dispute, the government noted that there are two locations known as Eba. While one is situated close to Ondo State’s forest reserve, the oil-bearing Eba Island referenced in the presidential approval lies fully within Ogun State’s coastal axis.
According to Akinmade, the approval granted for drilling activities followed extensive verification by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and other federal agencies, all of which confirmed Ogun State as the host territory.
He added that the presence of naval and other security formations around the site further underscores federal recognition of Ogun State’s jurisdiction over the area.
The statement also revealed that in October 2024, the Molokun of Atijere in Ondo State sought permission from the Osobia of Makun-Omi in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area to conduct commercial activities on Eba Island.
The request, which was declined, was subsequently reported to the Ogun State Government, NNPCL and security agencies. According to the government, this move amounted to an implicit acknowledgement of Ogun State’s authority over the island.
Reacting to historical claims based on colonial-era documents, the state government dismissed reliance on notices from 1919 and 1920, pointing instead to a later Colonial Government Gazette of April 29, 1950, which it said clearly defined the boundary between the former Ijebu and Ondo provinces.
The government further cited survey plans, lease documents, historical community records, and the Olokola Free Trade Zone survey as additional evidence supporting Ogun State’s claim.
Administrative recognition by the Independent National Electoral Commission was also referenced, with the polling unit at LA Primary School, Eba, officially registered under Makun/Irokun Ward in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area.
Akinmade said the Ogun State Government had also carried out independent geospatial verification of the oil well’s coordinates following the discovery of hydrocarbon prospects in the coastal corridor, confirming that the site lies within Ogun territory.
He added that the state has continued to work closely with the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and NNPCL to secure the oil asset and prepare it for commercial exploitation, including facilitating the establishment of security infrastructure in the area.
While urging restraint, the Ogun State Government warned against the spread of misinformation and inflammatory narratives, stressing its commitment to peace, the rule of law and cooperation with federal authorities.
“The position is clear and supported by law and records. Eba Island, where the approved oil well is located, is part of Ogun State,” the statement concluded.
