Ogun State Reaffirms Ownership of Disputed Oil-Rich Eba Island

The Ogun State Government has firmly restated its jurisdiction over Eba Island, the site of a recently approved oil well, dismissing counterclaims from neighboring Ondo State as a potential source of unnecessary conflict.

This clarification follows public debate and a motion in the House of Representatives by an Ondo lawmaker, sparked by President Bola Tinubu’s approval for drilling activities on the island.

In a statement released on Sunday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, asserted that Eba Island is unequivocally part of Ogun Waterside Local Government Area. He emphasized that state boundaries are constitutionally defined and documented by the National Boundary Commission, with official records placing the island within Ogun State.

The government stated that Eba is a long-established community whose status has remained unchanged since before Nigeria’s independence and through subsequent administrative reorganizations.

“There are two locations known as ‘Eba’,” the statement clarified, noting that the larger Eba Island hosting the oil well is distinctly within Ogun’s coastal corridor, while a separate area lies near an Ondo forest reserve.

Akinmade highlighted that the presidential approval followed due diligence by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and other federal agencies, which verified the site’s location within Ogun. The deployment of naval assets to secure the area was cited as further federal acknowledgment of Ogun State as the host.

Providing historical context, the statement referenced a 1950 colonial gazette that defined the boundary between the former Ijebu and Ondo Provinces, which it says supersedes earlier documents. It also pointed to lease agreements, survey plans, and administrative records including INEC’s listing of a polling unit in Eba under Ogun Waterside as corroborating evidence.

The government revealed that in October 2024, a traditional ruler from Ondo State sought permission from a counterpart in Ogun to conduct business on the island, a request that was declined and reported to authorities. Ogun interprets this engagement as an implicit recognition of its jurisdiction.

While urging restraint and responsible discourse, the Ogun State Government reaffirmed its commitment to the rule of law and peaceful cooperation with federal authorities to safeguard 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.