Ogun, Ondo Communities Bicker As New Oil Discovery Sparks Boundary Controversy
By Naija Enquirer Staff
Arguments over oil exploration in Ogun State took a new turn as the Molokun of Atijere Kingdom in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, Oba Samuel Adeoye, declared that Eba Island — where oil exploration is proposed — belongs to his kingdom. The monarch was quoted as saying that the people of Atijere would do everything legitimate to ensure they were not displaced from the site. Recall that the Ogun State Government had on Thursday issued a statement quoting Governor Dapo Abiodun as saying President Bola Tinubu had approved the commencement of commercial oil drilling operations at Tongeji Island in Ipokia Local Government Area of the state. However, the Ogun State Government later made a U-turn, clarifying that the approved location was Eba in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area, not Tongeji Island. While residents of Ipokia and Ogun West continued to express displeasure over the development, the Ondo monarch laid claim to Eba Island, insisting that the location where oil was discovered in commercial quantities belongs to the Atijere community in Ondo State. Earlier, the traditional ruler of Makun Omi in Ogun Waterside, Oba Kazeem Salami, through his spokesman, Gbenga Onayiga, had commended President Tinubu for reportedly approving the commencement of commercial oil exploration on Eba Island. Salami said the presidential nod would help the community and Ogun State realise their long-standing aspiration of producing crude oil. According to him, commercial oil drilling in Ogun Waterside would ensure inclusivity and empower the people of Makun Omi and neighbouring coastal communities. Salami assured the government that Makun Omi would provide a peaceful environment for seamless oil production. However, the Molokun of Atijere disagreed, arguing that documents exist confirming that Eba Island belongs to the Ilajes of Ondo State and not the Ijebus of Ogun Waterside. “From time immemorial, Eba Island has been under the control of Atijere. There is a difference between Eba and Eba Island. In fact, the location where this oil is discovered, the village there, and the owners of the village are from Atijere; they reside in Atijere. The Baale (local chief) there was installed by me. This is the third Baale we have there now. The village has been there as far back as 1937. Eba Island has been under the Atijere Native Court Authority,” he said. “Evidence and documentation are there to prove all this, but because the Atijere people don’t have people in the government, nobody is ready to help us. That place doesn’t belong to Makun Omi. We are much closer to Eba Island. They tried to drive away our people, but we resisted them. As I speak, our people are still there farming, fishing, and trading.” Oba Adeoye said the community would resist any attempt to commence oil exploration without proper investigation. “We are going to protest. We will not allow any exploration to happen there. It is our land. The Federal Government must investigate properly and determine the rightful owners. In fact, the oil site falls inside the Ondo State Forest Reserve,” he added. Similarly, an indigene, Prince Orimisan Bolaji, reaffirmed Atijere’s claim, stating that historical records and Ondo State Government documents confirm Eba Island’s affiliation with Atijere Kingdom. “We urge the public to disregard any claims suggesting otherwise. We also refute Ogun State’s claim to the oil well in Ago Balogun, Eba Island. This is a clear case of territorial overreach,” Bolaji said. Responding, the Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor on Media and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, dismissed the claims, insisting that Eba falls squarely within Ogun State. “What we know is that Eba, where oil was discovered in commercial quantity, is in Ogun State. According to the Nigerian map and official records, the area is in Ogun Waterside Local Government of Ogun State,” he said. Akinmade stressed that oil exploration is the responsibility of the Federal Government, not the state government. “The president gave the directive. Oil is on the exclusive legislative list. If Ondo State were involved, the Federal Government would have invited them. Ogun State was invited during discussions, and that is government-to-government engagement,” he said. The emerging dispute underscores the sensitivity of boundary claims tied to natural resource discoveries and raises fresh concerns about inter-state relations, host community tensions, and the need for transparent federal intervention.
