The Ogun State government has restated its authority over Eba Island in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area, dismissing claims from some groups in Ondo State as “misleading and capable of causing unnecessary tension.”
The clarification came after public debate following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval for drilling activities at an abandoned oil well on Eba Island, a move that triggered fresh boundary arguments.
In a statement released on Sunday, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, said, “The Eba Island where the approved oil well is located falls squarely within Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of Ogun State.”
Akinmade explained that official boundary maps from the National Boundary Commission confirm Ogun’s ownership. “Since 1976, no law, court ruling or federal gazette has altered Ogun State’s boundary to place Eba elsewhere,” he said.
He noted that while two locations share the name “Eba,” the island hosting the oil well “lies entirely within Ogun State’s coastal corridor.” He added that federal agencies, including NNPCL and national security formations, verified the coordinates before approving drilling activities.
The statement also referenced past interactions between traditional rulers, noting that a 2024 request by the Molokun of Atijere in Ondo State to conduct activities on the island “amounted to a tacit acknowledgment of Ogun State’s jurisdiction.”
Akinmade urged the public to avoid spreading false claims, saying the government remains committed to peace and cooperation. “The facts are clear, and the law is settled. Eba Island is in Ogun State,” he concluded.
