The Ogun State government has rejected Ondo State’s claim of ownership over Eba Island, an area currently under investigation for its oil well.
It reiterated that the island falls within its jurisdiction and warned against any attempts to incite communal tensions between the Ijebu and Ilaje peoples, who have coexisted peacefully for generations.
The dispute arose following a statement by Allen Sowore, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State on Strategic Communication, who asserted that Oke-Agor-Isekun, where an abandoned oil well was discovered, belongs to Ondo State and not Ogun State.
In a swift response on Thursday, the Special Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Energy, Mr Jide Onakoya, dismissed the claim as “misleading and contrary to established historical, traditional, and legal evidence.”
Onakoya further described Ondo’s assertion as “an affront to the Awujale of Ijebu Land and the Ijebu Traditional Council,” emphasising that historical records and documented evidence confirm Eba Island is within Ogun State’s boundaries.
He clarified that boundary delineations between local and state governments are determined by markers recognised by the National Boundary Commission. “A thorough examination of relevant maps affirms that Eba Island lies within Ogun Waterside Local Government in Ogun State,” Onakoya stated.
Quoting a document from the Palace of Makun-Omi, he reinforced the claim:
“… It is indisputable that the oil well currently under investigation is located in Eba Island, which falls within Ogun Waterside in Ogun State.”
The Ogun government also condemned Ondo State’s claim over Irokun, another community within Ogun Waterside Local Government, calling it a reckless attempt to distort facts and provoke conflict.
“Irokun has been an Ijebu settlement since the colonial era, transitioning through the Western Region to Ogun State,” the statement asserted. “The geographical boundary declarations along the Bight of Benin confirm Irokun and Araromi Seaside as part of Ogun State, with the Onirokun of Irokun being a recognised member of the Ijebu Traditional Council.”
The government traced the source of the misinformation to Oba Samuel Edema, the Molokun of Atijere in Ondo State, accusing him of fuelling the controversy.
According to the Ogun government, in October 2024, Oba Edema approached Oba Kazeem Adesina Salami, the Osobia of Makun-Omi, seeking permission for a business venture on Eba Island.
However, the Ogun monarch, acting within his legal authority, declined the request and promptly reported the matter to Governor Abiodun, who subsequently alerted the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and security agencies.
Following these reports, officials from the NNPC and law enforcement agencies visited the area to conduct due diligence, a move Ogun State argues was met with an aggressive reaction from Ondo State, culminating in what it termed a “misleading communiqué” from the Ilaje Traditional Council.
The Ogun government strongly condemned any attempts at territorial expansion and the misuse of colonial-era documents to justify claims that contradict Nigeria’s constitutional framework.
It referenced Colonial Government Gazette No. 660, dated April 29, 1950, which clearly defines the boundary between the Ijebu and Ondo provinces, thereby superseding earlier documents such as Government Notices No. 69 of 1919 and No. 114 of 1920.
“The Gazette, signed by Acting Chief Secretary to the Colonial Government, H.F. Marshall, solidifies Ogun State’s ownership of the disputed territory,” the statement added.
Reaffirming its commitment to maintaining peace and stability, the Ogun State government urged all stakeholders to respect legal boundaries and avoid unnecessary conflict.
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