By Eteteonline
Ogun and Ondo States are at odds over who owns Eba Island, where commercial drilling is set to start shortly, while Cross River State is attempting to reclaim the 76 oil wells the Supreme Court gave to Akwa Ibom in 2012.
President Bola Tinubu gave his approval in January 2026 for commercial oil drilling to begin at Eba in Ogun State’s Ogun Waterside Local Government Area.
This was revealed by Governor Dapo Abiodun during a courtesy call at his office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, where he hosted Rear Admiral Abubakar Abdullahi Mustapha, Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, along with other senior command officers.
Following the governor of Ogun State’s revelation, a disagreement arose with Ondo State, which claimed ownership of Eba Island. The ownership of Eba Island, an oil-rich island in the border region between the two states, is the subject of a contentious dispute between the governments of Ogun and Ondo as of February 2026. With both states claiming the land as part of their respective powers, the tension escalated once it was claimed that the federal government had approved oil drilling at this location.
Eba Island, the disputed region, is located close to the shoreline between Ilaje LGA (Ondo State) and Ogun Waterside LGA (Ogun State).
Eba Island is claimed by the Ogun State administration as belonging to Ogun Waterside Local administration, citing historical documents, the 1950 Colonial Government Gazette No. 660, and a 2024 border survey. Ogun State contends that after verifying their jurisdiction, the federal government authorized the drilling.
Ogun’s claim is vehemently denied by the Ondo State administration, which describes it as a “encroachment” on their territorial integrity. According to Ondo, the residents are of Ilaje descent and the village has historically been a part of the Atijere community in Ilaje LGA, which is managed by Ondo State.
Both parties and the House of Representatives have tasked the National Boundary Commission (NBC) with resolving the boundary, and “coordinate plotting” and field surveys are now in progress.
According to sources, the conflict concerns about 13% oil derivation monies, which Ondo State claims Ogun is attempting to seize. The scenario is characterized as “uneasy calm” with growing tensions between communities. Ondo State has protested the matter, claiming that neighboring Ogun State has illegally encroached on their territory.
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