Ogun reaffirms ownership of Eba oil well, cites colonial gazettes
The Ogun State Government has formally reasserted its territorial sovereignty over Eba Island in the Ogun Waterside Local Government Area, declaring that the location of the newly approved oil well falls squarely within its constitutional boundaries.
In a move to dismiss emerging claims from stakeholders in neighbouring Ondo State, the government described recent assertions regarding the island as misleading and capable of inciting avoidable communal tension.
The dispute stems from public debates and a legislative motion sponsored by Hon. Donald Kimikanboh Ojogo, the House of Representatives member for Ilaje Federal Constituency in Ondo State.
These contentions arose shortly after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu granted approval for the commencement of drilling activities at an abandoned oil well situated on the island.
Responding to the controversy in a statement issued on Sunday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, maintained that official records, historical documents, and modern administrative verifications all
validate Ogun State’s ownership.
Akinmade clarified a critical geographical nuance, explaining that there are two distinct locations known as Eba.
While one lies near the Ondo State forest reserve, the larger Eba Island which hosts the Presidentially approved oil asset is positioned entirely within the coastal corridor of Ogun State.
He emphasized that the boundaries between the states are constitutionally defined and documented by the National Boundary Commission (NBC), noting that no constitutional amendment or judicial pronouncement has altered the 1976 state creation structures that placed the island in Ogun.
To buttress its position, the state government highlighted the extensive due diligence conducted by federal agencies prior to the
drilling approval.
The statement noted that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and the newly deployed naval security formations have recognized Ogun State as the host, a validation that preceded the federal clearance for exploration.
On the historical front, the government dismantled arguments relying on colonial documents from 1919 and 1920. Instead, it pointed to the Colonial Government Gazette No. 660 of April 29, 1950, which superseded earlier notices and clearly defined the boundary between the then-Ijebu and Ondo Provinces.
Further evidence cited included lease agreements, historical and the impact Africa continues to have on the world.
The government also presented recent administrative and traditional precedents to support its claim. It disclosed that as recently as October 2024, the Molokun of Atijere in Ondo State had formally approached the Osobia of Makun-Omi in Ogun Waterside to seek permission for business activities on Eba Island.
The Ogun State Government viewed this request, which was notably declined and reported to security agencies, as a tacit admission of the Osobia’s and by extension Ogun State’s jurisdiction over the territory.