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Oil Discovery: Ogun Govt Reaffirms Jurisdiction Over Eba Island
The Ogun State Government has reaffirmed its territorial jurisdiction over Eba Island in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area, dismissing claims from some quarters in Ondo State as misleading and capable of triggering avoidable communal tension.
The clarification follows public debates and a motion sponsored by Hon. Donald Kimikanboh Ojogo, representing Ilaje Federal Constituency in Ondo State, after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the commencement of drilling activities at an abandoned oil well located on Eba Island.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, said the Eba Island where the approved oil well is located falls squarely within Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of Ogun State.
According to Akinmade, boundaries between states and local governments in Nigeria are constitutionally defined and properly documented by the National Boundary Commission (NBC), adding that official boundary maps and records clearly situate Eba Island within Ogun State.
He explained that Eba is a long-established community within Ogun Waterside, whose status predates Nigeria’s independence and has remained unchanged through successive political and administrative reorganisations, including the 1976 state creation exercise that carved Ogun State out of the former Western region
“Since 1976, there has been no constitutional amendment, judicial pronouncement or federal gazette that altered the boundary placing Eba outside Ogun State,” the statement said.
The government clarified that there are two distinct locations known as “Eba.” While one is located near the Ondo State forest reserve, the larger Eba Island—where the oil well approved by the President is situated—lies entirely within Ogun State’s coastal corridor.
Akinmade noted that the presidential approval for drilling followed extensive due diligence by Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and other relevant federal institutions, all of which confirmed that the oil well is located within Ogun State territory before clearance was granted.
He added that the deployment of national security assets, including naval formations around the drilling site, further demonstrates federal recognition of Ogun State as the host state.
Providing additional context, Akinmade disclosed that in October 2024, the Molokun of Atijere in Ondo State formally approached the Osobia of Makun-Omi in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area, seeking permission to conduct business activities on Eba Island. The request was declined and subsequently reported to the Ogun State Government, NNPCL and security agencies.
According to the government, this engagement amounted to a tacit acknowledgment of Ogun State’s jurisdiction over the area.
On historical claims being circulated, the Ogun State Government described reliance on colonial documents from 1919 and 1920 as misleading, pointing instead to Colonial Government Gazette No. 660 of April 29, 1950, which clearly defined the boundary between the former Ijebu and Ondo Provinces and superseded earlier notices.
The government also cited lease agreements, historical community records and survey documents—including the Olokola Free Trade Zone Survey Plan—as further evidence establishing Eba Island as part of Ogun State.
Administrative validation by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was also referenced, with the polling unit at LA Primary School, Eba, officially registered under Makun/Irokun Ward in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of Ogun State.
Akinmade said that following the discovery of hydrocarbon prospects in the coastal corridor, the Ogun State Government conducted independent verification of the well coordinates using geospatial and cartographic technology, which confirmed that the wells are located within Ogun State boundaries.
He added that Ogun State has worked closely with the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and NNPCL in securing the asset and preparing it for commercial exploration, including facilitating the establishment of naval security infrastructure in the area.
While cautioning against the spread of misinformation and inflammatory narratives, the Ogun State Government called for restraint and responsible engagement by all parties.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to the rule of law, peaceful coexistence and cooperation with the Federal Government in safeguarding national assets, adding that the people of Makun-Omi Kingdom have assured authorities of their readiness to maintain peace and protect lives and property.
“The facts are clear and the law is settled. Eba Island where the approved oil well is located is in Ogun State,” the statement concluded.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says it will sustain salary payments for up to 12 months to families of personnel who die in the line of duty.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, approved the welfare initiative as part of measures to strengthen support for families of fallen personnel.
A credible NAF source who pleaded anonymity disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Sunday in Abuja.
He said the policy, which provided a special extension of salary payments to the spouses or next of kin of NAF personnel killed in action, would help cushion the impact of their loss.
He explained that, in line with existing public service rules, salary payments normally cease upon the death of a personnel member.
According to him, the new initiative will see salaries of personnel killed in the line of duty continue for up to 12 months from the date of death, or until all death benefits are fully processed and paid, whichever comes first.
The official said the initiative was designed to prevent financial hardship for bereaved families during the period of administrative processing of death benefits.
He added that the CAS had also approved additional welfare packages for officers, airmen and airwomen of the service.
“These measures are aimed at cushioning the prevailing economic pressures and reinforcing the NAF’s commitment to the wellbeing of its personnel.
“These initiatives are also part of a broader welfare reform agenda anchored on the understanding that the wellbeing of personnel and their families is a strategic enabler of combat effectiveness.
“Enhanced welfare drives effective warfare, ensuring that no airman is left unequipped, untrained or unmotivated,” he said.
The source further said that the initiatives reaffirmed the NAF’s resolve to honour the sacrifices of fallen heroes, support the families they left behind and sustain a motivated and mission-ready force.
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has directed the Renewed Hope Ambassadors to distribute rice across all states of the federation in support of citizens observing the ongoing Ramadan and Lenten seasons.
The initiative is intended to strengthen national unity and demonstrate compassion during a period that holds deep spiritual significance for both Muslims and Christians.
A statement issued by the Director-General, Renewed Hope Ambassadors and governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma explained that “under the directive, the Renewed Hope Ambassadors will coordinate the distribution through their nationwide grassroots network to ensure that families across Nigeria benefit from the intervention during this holy season when both Muslims and Christians are fasting.”
According to the statement: “It is worth noting that a similar intervention was carried out during the last Christmas season, when rice was also distributed to support Nigerians celebrating the festive period.
“This continued effort reflects the administration’s consistent commitment to standing with citizens during important religious and cultural seasons.
“Both Christian and Muslim communities will receive rice as part of the nationwide distribution effort, reflecting the President’s commitment to inclusivity, solidarity, and shared national values.”
Commenting on the initiative, Governor Uzodimma said the programme underscored the President’s belief in supporting citizens during this period of fasting while strengthening interfaith harmony.
He said: “This initiative reflects President Tinubu’s commitment to unity and compassion. Ramadan and Lent are seasons that remind us of sacrifice, charity, and care for one another. Through this distribution, the Renewed Hope Ambassadors will ensure that families across Nigeria feel the spirit of togetherness during this sacred period.”
The statement concluded by saying that the distribution will be carried out across nationwide through the state, local government, and ward structures of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors to ensure broad reach and transparency.
The Police Command in Osun says it has arrested two officers of the Nigeria Customs Service(NCS) in connection with a shooting incident that left a driver dead in Osogbo.
This was contained in a statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, on Sunday.
Ojelabi explained that the two officers of the NCS were arrested in connection with a shooting incident that occurred at Dada Estate Area, Osogbo, on Sunday.
“The suspects were reportedly chasing suspected tokunbo (foreign-used) vehicles when the incident occurred.
“Meanwhile, the driver of the said ash-coloured Toyota Corolla, one of the vehicles being chased by the Customs officers, was shot and confirmed dead by a medical doctor at the Osun State University Teaching Hospital,” he said.
The command’s spokesperson said that the corpse of the yet-to-be-identified victim had been deposited in a morgue.
Ojelabi said several items were recovered from the scene, including a Beretta pistol with breech number 125024, 11 rounds of 9mm live ammunition and one expanded 9mm shell.
Other items recovered were a white Toyota Corolla with Lagos registration number AAA 400 GQ, and an ash Toyota Corolla with registration number GFQ 0982.
He said that the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, had ordered a thorough investigation to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident.
He assured members of the public that anyone found culpable would face the full wrath of the law.
He urged residents to remain calm and continue to cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information that can aid the investigation.
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