Reps probe Ogun-Ondo border dispute over Eba Island oil properly

The Home of Representatives on Thursday mandated its related committees to research the territorial standing of Eba Island, a geographical space at present being contested by Ogun State and Ondo State.

The decision adopted the adoption of a movement at plenary moved by the member representing Odigbo/Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo Federal Constituency, Joseph Adegbesan.

Presenting the movement, the lawmaker reminded the Home that the Nationwide Boundary Fee is constitutionally empowered to outline, modify and preserve inter-state boundaries throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He stated, “The Home is conscious that Eba Island, the location of a lately authorized oil properly for business drilling, is geographically located between the Oluwa River and the Alape River throughout the Ogun Waterside Native Authorities Space of Ogun State.

“The Home can be conscious of the existence of two distinct places bearing the title ‘Eba’, one being Eba Island in Ogun Waterside Native Authorities Space of Ogun State, and the opposite an inland Eba neighborhood throughout the Ilaje Native Authorities Space of Ondo State, that are geographically and administratively separate.”

Adegbesan additional famous that the Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee had, over time, recognised Eba Island as falling inside Makun/Irokun Ward of Ogun Waterside Native Authorities Space of Ogun State by establishing polling models and conducting elections there.

He stated, “The Home additionally noticed that the Nigerian Nationwide Petroleum Firm Restricted, at the side of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Fee, performed due diligence and verified the coordinates of the oil properly previous to the approval for business drilling by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu.”

The lawmaker, nonetheless, expressed concern over latest claims suggesting that the oil-bearing island falls inside Ondo State, warning that such assertions may set off pointless stress between the 2 neighbouring states.
He stated the claims “danger creating pointless stress between Ogun and Ondo States and should undermine nationwide financial stability.”

Adegbesan added, “We’re disturbed that experiences of threats issued by sure teams relating to the oil exploration actions pose potential dangers to nationwide safety and financial infrastructure.

“The Home is anxious that there was no constitutional modification, judicial pronouncement, Federal Gazette, or formal boundary adjustment by the Nationwide Boundary Fee transferring Eba Island from Ogun State to Ondo State for the reason that 1976 state creation train.

“We’re additionally involved that confusion arising from the similarity in nomenclature between two distinct ‘Ebe’ places might mislead the general public and policymakers; moreover, unresolved territorial disputes over oil-bearing areas might discourage funding, disrupt exploration actions, and threaten nationwide income era, thereby emboldening crime and compromising the safety of nationwide belongings.”

Following the adoption of the movement at a session presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, the Home mandated its Committees on Particular Duties and Petroleum Assets (Upstream) to research the geospatial coordinates and official boundary documentation referring to Eba Island and report inside 4 weeks for additional legislative motion.

The controversy surrounding Eba Island has intensified in latest weeks following the approval for business oil drilling within the space, elevating questions on which state has authorized possession of the territory and the attendant income advantages.

Each Ogun and Ondo states are reportedly laying claims to the oil-bearing island, citing historic, administrative and geographical arguments to assist their positions. The dispute has additionally drawn consideration to long-standing boundary ambiguities in Nigeria’s coastal areas, the place rivers, creeks and islands usually complicate demarcation between states.

Observers say the invention of hydrocarbon sources has heightened the stakes within the dispute, with each states wanting to safe financial benefits tied to grease exploration and derivation income. The intervention by the Home of Representatives is due to this fact seen as an try and make clear the authorized and geospatial standing of the island and stop the dispute from escalating right into a broader inter-state battle.