A fresh dispute has erupted over oil exploration in Ogun State after the Molokun of Atijere Kingdom in Ondo State, Oba Samuel Adeoye, insisted on Sunday that Eba Island—now the centre of proposed commercial drilling—belongs to his domain, not Ogun State.
In an exclusive interview with our correspondent, the monarch stated that the Atijere community would take all lawful steps to prevent any displacement from the site. His declaration adds a new layer of tension to a conflict already inflamed by conflicting government statements.
The controversy began last Thursday when the Ogun State Government announced that President Bola Tinubu had approved the commencement of commercial oil drilling at Tongeji Island in Ipokia Local Government Area. The statement was later corrected, with the state government clarifying that the approved site was Eba Island in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area.
The announcement had already provoked anger among residents of Ipokia and other parts of Ogun West, who accused the state government of sidelining local interests. But Oba Adeoye’s claim now shifts the dispute into inter-state territory, with Ondo State’s Atijere Kingdom asserting ownership of the island where oil was reportedly found in commercial quantities.
Earlier, the traditional ruler of Makun Omi in Ogun Waterside, Oba Kazeem Salami, had praised President Tinubu’s approval, describing it as a long-awaited breakthrough that would empower the community and Ogun State. Through his spokesman, Gbenga Onayiga, Salami said commercial drilling would ensure inclusivity and foster development for Makun Omi and neighbouring coastal communities. He also pledged that the community would provide a peaceful environment for oil production.
But Oba Adeoye strongly contested that position, claiming that documents and historical records confirm Eba Island’s affiliation with Atijere in Ondo State.
He said, “From time immemorial, Eba Island has been under the control of Atijere. There is a difference between Eba and Eba Island. The village where oil was discovered and the people who live there are from Atijere. The Baale 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.”
The monarch added that his community has resisted attempts to drive them away from the island, maintaining that residents continue to farm, fish, and trade there. He claimed that the community has never paid royalties to Makun Omi and insisted that Eba Island is closer to Atijere than to Makun Omi.
Oba Adeoye acknowledged his friendship with the Makun Omi monarch but said the island has long been a source of disagreement between them. He vowed that Atijere would protest the oil exploration announcement and would not allow any drilling to take place.
“We are going to protest. We will take the protest anywhere heavily. We will not allow any exploration to happen there. It’s not possible; we will not allow it because it’s our land,” he said.
He further urged the Federal Government to carry out a thorough investigation to determine the rightful owner of the island, arguing that the oil site even lies within the Ondo State Forest Reserve.
The monarch also raised concerns about the delay in exploring oil on Tongeji Island, warning that the Republic of Benin might seize the opportunity if Nigeria fails to act promptly.
Meanwhile, Prince Orimisan Bolaji, an indigene of Atijere, reinforced the monarch’s position, saying that historical records and Ondo State documents confirm Eba Island’s affiliation with Atijere Kingdom. He urged Ogun State to respect territorial boundaries and called on the Federal Government to assert Atijere’s rights.
Ogun State Government Responds
The Ogun State Government rejected the claims, insisting that Eba Island falls within Ogun Waterside Local Government Area.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, said, “What we know is that Eba, the place where oil was discovered in commercial quantity, is in Ogun State… according to the Nigerian map and everything, the area is in the Ogun Waterside Local Government of Ogun State.”
Akinmade dismissed the monarch’s claim as a traditional ruler’s opinion, stressing that it is the state government’s position that matters.
He also noted that oil exploration is a Federal Government matter, arguing that the Federal Government has the exclusive legal right over oil resources. He said the Ogun State Government was invited by federal authorities during discussions, and that the process was conducted on a government-to-government basis.
The latest development has heightened uncertainty around the oil exploration project, with both states staking competing claims and the Federal Government yet to publicly address the emerging dispute.