Ogun state owns Eba Island, says Waterside traditional rulers

Damilare Adeleye (Intern)

The traditional rulers and leaders of Ogun Waterside Local Government Area have asserted that the Eba Island— which was recently approved for the oil exploration by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu— is located in Ogun State, rejecting claims in some quarters that the oil-bearing territory belongs to Ilaje communities in Ondo State.

Penpushing reports that the traditional rulers made this position known during a press conference held on Friday, February 27,2026 held at Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta, the state capital.

The briefing drew traditional rulers, community leaders and political stakeholders, all gathered to clarify what the leaders described as historical and administrative facts regarding the ownership of Eba Island.

Penpushing further reports that it would be recalled that Ogun State government in January, had announced the commencement of commercial oil drilling operations at Eba in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area following the approval of President Tinubu.

The announcement, however, sparked controversies as some residents in neighbouring Ondo State kicked against the development with protests, insisting that the location where oil was discovered in commercial quantities belongs to the Atijere community in the state.

Penpushing also reports that former Commissioner for Education in Ogun State, Professor Segun Awonusi, addressing journalists on behalf of the Ogun Waterside leaders explained that geographical and administrative records clearly place the larger Eba Island within Ogun State territory, adding that confusion may have arisen due to the existence of two islands bearing similar names.

“It is important to note that there are two separate Eba Islands. The larger Eba is in Ogun State, while there is a smaller Eba near the boundary with Ondo State forest reserve. It is indisputable that the oil well location recently approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu after due diligence by relevant authorities is in Eba Island that is clearly located in Ogun Waterside LGA of Ogun State’, he said.

Penpushing further reports that Awonusi disclosed that existing lease agreements, historical community records and survey documents consistently authenticate Eba Island as being part of Ogun State,

The former Vice-Chancellor of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijebu-Ode stressed that administrative evidence spanning decades supports this claim

“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has registered the polling unit at Local Government Primary School, Eba, under Makun/Irokun Ward in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of Ogun State. Over the years, the Ogun State Government SUBEB through LGEA has maintained the Eba Primary School and paid the school staff salaries and other emoluments’’, he added

Penpushing also reports that Awonusi stated that the Ogun State government conducted independent verification of the well’s coordinates using geospatial and cartographic technology, confirming the wells are within the state boundaries.

“The state has worked closely with the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and NNPCL to secure the asset and prepare it for commercial exploration’, he emphasised

Penpushing reports that Awonusi described as misleading the recent motion by the member representing Ilaje Federal Constituency of Ondo State in the House of Representatives, Hon. Donald Ojogo, who claimed that the disputed territory falls within Mahin Kingdom in Ilaje Local Government Area.

“However, information contained in the recent motion sponsored by the member representing Ilaje Federal Constituency of Ondo State in the House of Representatives, Hon Donald Ojogo is incorrect, misleading, alarming and capable of causing communal crises between the Ijebu and Ilaje people who have co-existed peacefully in the neighbouring states of Ogun and Ondo with boundaries in upland and riverine coastal areas. It is, indeed, an affront to the Ijebu people and the Ijebu Traditional Council’, he stated.

“Boundary lines among the Local and State Governments in Nigeria are mapped with delineation lines and the National Boundary Commission has the records as constitutionally empowered’, Awonusi said.

Penpushing further reports that he criticized what he termed an alleged attempt by Oba Samuel Adeoye, the Molokun of Atijere Kingdom, to extend territorial claims beyond recognized boundaries, warning that such actions could destabilize long-standing peaceful relations between neighbouring communities.

“The current misguided attempt by a few characters in Ilaje LGA of Ondo State, particularly the desperation of Molokun of Atijere to brazenly engage in territorial expansion, can only ignite communal crises in communities which have co-existed peacefully for decades, is quite unfortunate,” he said.

Penpushing also reports that the Ogun Waterside leaders condemned reported threats by some ex-militants, who allegedly vowed to attack critical national economic assets within 14 days if the Federal Government failed to cede the oil well to Ilaje claimants.

The community leaders argued that documents presented by Ilaje representatives to support their claims are largely outdated and legally invalid

“Those behind such threats to national security must be apprehended by security agencies and dealt with immediately. We recall that while some militants and Ilajes throw into public space outdated and invalid documents such as Government Notices No 69 of 1919 and No.114 of 1920, a more recent Colonial document which is the Government GAZETTE No 660 of 29th April, 1950 signed by the Acting Chief Secretary to the Colonial Government of Nigeria, H.F. Marshall clearly divided the boundaries of Ijebu and Ondo Provinces. The document ipso facto declared invalid earlier documents purportedly giving impressions that part of Ijebu Province belonged to Ondo Province’.

“In addition, there are recent lease agreements between some Ilaje Oba, Chiefs and people seeking permission to use – albeit on a temporary basis and with payment of appropriate “isakole” or ground rent to Ijebu land owners, part of our land for agricultural or commercial purposes’.

‘Such include the LEASE AGREEMENT between Mrs Victoria Talabi of Makun Omi in Ogun Waterside LGA and Mr BODE OROFIN of Atijere in Ilaje Ese Odo LGA and the “Iwe Adehun” between Edema Family of Atijere, Ondo State seeking use of the land from Makun Omi Community dated 27th February, 1975. The Olokola Free Trade Zone Survey Plan also clearly shows the true location of EBA Island in Ogun State.”

Penpushing reports that, while calling on the Ilaje neighbours to desist from the current aggressive media war, distortion of historical facts, and outright threat to the people of Ogun Waterside, the leaders also called on the Federal Government and all stakeholders to help check the current mischief by the Ilaje people.

The community leaders expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for the commencement of commercial oil drilling, as well as Governor Dapo Abiodun for making their environment available and attractive for commercial activities, especially in ensuring the pre-post approval of the Eba oil prospecting and drilling mega project.

“The peace-loving Ijebu and Ikale people in Ogun Waterside LGA assure President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Dapo Abiodun and Nigerians that we would continue to be law abiding and protect the lives and properties of those deployed to work in the oil well in Eba Island’, Awonusi stated.

Penpushing further reports that Oba Olusegun Ogunye, Ojotumoro of Abigi Kingdom and Chairman of Ogun Waterside Council of Obas, in his contributions affirmed that the indigenous inhabitants of Ogun Waterside remain the recognized occupants with traditional authority over Eba Island.

“Apart from people living there, we have Asoju there. And don’t forget that traditionally you upgrade from Asoju to Baale. But as of today, we have Asoju and people living there. Apart from the people, the government is also trying to have its presence there. Don’t forget that this local government is so wide and so vast; and is being surrounded by water.”

Penpushing also reports that the monarch described the claims from Ondo as overzealous attempts to appropriate what rightfully belongs to Ogun Waterside, pointing to the infrastructural development undertaken by the Ogun State Government in the area.

“But just like I said, the presence of the government is now rearing its head in some of those areas. Now, there are additional schools. I think there are additional classrooms, about four or so. There are street lights, there are medical facilities now. So, this is what the government is doing now. As a matter of fact, we are happy that this is happening.”

Penpushing reports that the traditional ruler emphasized that the state government has remained proactive and resolute in safeguarding its territorial integrity.

“And our governor is so proactive that he has said not a single inch of our land will be hijacked by the people. And so, I can assure you that the government is very proactive. The local government is also doing its best and the Obas too because we are the custodian of the land, the properties and those people.”

“We are here to lay an assertion on our property. It is our property. And we are only here to say this is our property and that nobody should interfere or intercept this land’ the royal father declared.

Penpushing further reports that other traditional rulers present at the briefing included Oba Adekunle Hassan, the Lenuwa of Ode-Omi; Oba Bola Raimi, the Alarige of Ibiade; Oba Kazeem Adesina Salami, the Osobia and Paramount Ruler of Makun-Omi; Oba F.A. Obikoya, the Oloni of Oni; Oba Mafe Abimbola, the Onisin of Ilusin; and Oba Bawani, the Onirokun.

The others were respected community leaders Prof. Juwoke Bilesanmi; Iyalode of Iwaland; Olusegun Osumade Adenola (Makun-Omi); Asiwaju Gbenro Korede (Oni); Are Sulaimon Abdulrahaman (Oni); and Alhaja Ogunlana Olabode, the Vice-Chairman of Ogun Waterside Local Government, alongside other chiefs and religious leaders.

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