Atijere Development Association (ADA)Atijere Kingdom in Ilaje Local Government Area,Ondo state, has claimed that Eba Island,where President Bola Tinubu gave presidential approval for the commencement of commercial oil drilling belongs to Ondo, not Ogun state.
Last week, Tinubu gave nod for the commencement of commercial oil drilling at Eba in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area, alongside renewed momentum for the Olokola deep seaport project.
The group faulted the recent claims suggesting that Eba Island or its oil field belongs wholly or partly to Makun-Omi in Ogun State.
It said such claims are inconsistent with documented history, geographical realities, and uninterrupted administrative practice.
Eba Island, it claimed, has been administered as part of the Ondo State Forest Reserve under Atijere Kingdom, with governance, security, and community affairs overseen by Ilaje authorities.
This long-standing and uncontested administration reflects the island’s natural and historical place within Ondo State, it said.
According to the group, the Eba Island oil field lies within the Ago-Alaja/Balogun Community, a recognised settlement cluster historically and culturally linked to Atijere Kingdom in Ilaje Local Government Area.
These communities,it said, have flourished under Ilaje traditional leadership, reinforcing strong social, economic, and cultural ties to Ondo State.
It stated:”The original and continuous inhabitants of Eba Island are Ilaje people, whose language, customs, and allegiance to Atijere Kingdom have endured for centuries. This unbroken indigenous presence underscores the island’s integral role in Ilaje history and Ondo State’s coastal heritage.
“The Atijere Development Association unequivocally affirms that Eba Island and its oil resources are an inseparable part of Ilaje Local Government Area, Ondo State. We remain committed to peaceful coexistence and constructive engagement and urge all stakeholders to rely on verified historical and legal facts.
“Any disputes should be addressed through appropriate constitutional channels, including the National Boundary Commission, to ensure an amicable and lawful resolution in the national interest.”
