JUST IN: OGUN REAFFIRMS OWNERSHIP OF OIL-RICH EBA ISLAND, DISMISSES ONDO CLAIMS

 OGUN REAFFIRMS OWNERSHIP OF OIL-RICH EBA ISLAND, DISMISSES ONDO CLAIMS


The Ogun State Government has reaffirmed its territorial jurisdiction over Eba Island in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area, dismissing claims from some quarters in Ondo State as misleading and capable of igniting avoidable communal tension.

The clarification followed public debates and a motion sponsored by a member of the House of Representatives representing Ilaje Federal Constituency in Ondo State, after President Bola Tinubu approved the commencement of drilling activities at an abandoned oil well located on Eba Island.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor on Information and Strategy, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, stated that Eba Island, where the approved oil well is located, falls squarely within Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of Ogun State.

According to him, state and local government boundaries in Nigeria are constitutionally defined and officially documented by the National Boundary Commission, adding that existing boundary maps and records clearly place Eba Island within Ogun State.

Akinmade explained that Eba is a long-established community whose status predates Nigeria’s independence and has remained unchanged through successive political and administrative reorganisations, including the 1976 state creation exercise that carved Ogun State out of the former Western State.

“Since 1976, there has been no constitutional amendment, judicial pronouncement, or federal gazette that altered the boundary to place Eba outside Ogun State,” the statement said.

The government clarified that there are two locations known as “Eba,” noting that while one is situated near the Ondo State forest reserve, the larger Eba Island—where the oil well approved by the President is located—lies entirely within Ogun State’s coastal corridor.

Akinmade added that the presidential approval for drilling followed due diligence by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and other relevant federal agencies, all of which confirmed that the oil well is located within Ogun State before clearance was granted.

He further noted that the deployment of national security assets, including naval formations around the drilling site, reflects federal recognition of Ogun State as the host state.

Providing additional context, the statement disclosed that in October 2024, the Molokun of Atijere in Ondo State formally sought permission from the Osobia of Makun-Omi in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area to conduct business activities on Eba Island. The request was declined and subsequently reported to the Ogun State Government, NNPCL, and security agencies.

According to the government, the request amounted to an implicit acknowledgement of Ogun State’s jurisdiction over the area.

On historical claims being circulated, the Ogun State Government described reliance on colonial documents from 1919 and 1920 as misleading, citing instead Colonial Government Gazette No. 660 of April 29, 1950, which it said clearly defined the boundary between the former Ijebu and Ondo Provinces and superseded earlier notices.

The government also referenced lease agreements, historical community records, and survey documents, including 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 was also cited, with the polling unit at LA Primary School, Eba, officially registered under Makun/Irokun Ward in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Akinmade said that following the discovery of hydrocarbon prospects in the coastal corridor, the Ogun State Government conducted independent verification of the well coordinates using geospatial and cartographic technology, which confirmed that the wells are located within Ogun State boundaries.

He added that the state has worked closely with the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission 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, reaffirming 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.

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