Ogun state
Picnews
Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun initially announced that President Bola Tinubu approved commercial oil drilling operations at Tongeji Island in Ipokia Local Government Area. However, the state government later clarified that the approved site is actually Eba Island in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area, attributing the mistake to a press officer’s error .
The people of Ipokia Local Government Area are concerned about the change in location, insisting that oil deposits in Tongeji Island have long been confirmed in commercial quantities. They’ve petitioned Governor Abiodun to reaffirm the original approval, citing the resource’s potential for economic development .
The controversy has sparked tensions between communities in Ogun State, with some claiming ancestral ownership of Eba Island. The Ogun State Government maintains that Eba Island is the approved site, while Tongeji Island also has oil deposits but requires significant infrastructure development .
Ondo State has also laid claim to Eba Island, stating it falls within Ilaje Local Government Area. The Ondo State Government warns against misleading narratives that could inflame interstate tension.
The House of Representatives has directed the National Boundary Commission to determine the ownership of Eba Island, with a lawmaker arguing that geography and historical administration support Ondo State’s claim .
The Ogun State Government rejects Ondo’s claim, citing historical records and documented evidence that confirm Eba Island is within Ogun State’s boundaries.
The dispute highlights the complexities of boundary demarcation and resource ownership in Nigeria. The situation remains tense, with communities and governments awaiting resolution .
