The Federal Government’s approval of crude oil drilling on Eba Island has reignited a long-standing custodial dispute in Ogun State, with the people of Ode Omi Kingdom warning of possible communal unrest if the issue is not urgently resolved.
In a formal protest dated January 28, 2026, and addressed to Governor Dapo Abiodun, the community expressed appreciation to both the governor and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for facilitating the oil project under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
However, the community cautioned that renewed competing claims over the ownership of Eba Island now pose a serious threat to peace in the Ijebu Waterside axis of the state.
The protest followed a separate letter dated January 24, 2026, allegedly authored by another traditional ruler laying claim to Eba Island as ancestral land. Ode Omi Kingdom rejected the claim, describing it as historically unfounded and capable of inflaming tensions in the coastal region.
The protest was conveyed in a statement signed by the Balogun of Ode Omi Kingdom, High Chief Prince Shittu Aliu Adeyemi, on behalf of the community.
According to the statement, Eba Island has belonged “since time immemorial” to the Lenuwa ruling houses of Ode Omi Kingdom, specifically the Ojafoyewa and Ojagbuwa royal families, alongside other ancient families in the kingdom.
The community stated that members of these ruling houses historically lived on Eba Island and adjoining Eba villages, which share boundaries with Irokun Town, a neighbouring settlement. It added that two Kings Lenuwa of Ode Omi Kingdom, both from the Ojafoyewa lineage, were born and raised in the Eba settlements during the 17th and 19th centuries.
The statement further noted that residents of the Eba communities traditionally maintained family homes in Ode Omi Kingdom before their installation as rulers, a practice said to have endured for centuries.
Raising concern over the timing of the renewed ownership claim, the community said the challenge only emerged after President Tinubu approved oil drilling in commercial quantities on the island.
“We are deeply concerned that this claim surfaced only after the approval of crude oil drilling, and we are keen to avoid any escalation that could disturb the peace of the area,” the statement said.
The community appealed to President Tinubu and Governor Abiodun to intervene swiftly, calling for a transparent investigation by relevant state authorities and the Ogun State Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs to verify historical and customary records concerning Eba Island.
Reaffirming its commitment to peaceful coexistence, the community described Ode Omi as a peaceful kingdom with long-standing cordial relations with neighbouring communities, identifying Oba Folailu Adekunle Hassan (Oshotekun II) as a foundational ruler in Ijebu land.
The statement also stressed that Eba Island was never shared with any traditional ruler from Ilaje communities in present-day Ondo State, urging all parties to pursue dialogue and lawful channels to preserve peace and stability in the region.
By Linus Aleke, Abuja
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