The Ondo State government on Friday refuted Ogun State’s claim regarding the location of the Oke-Agor-Isekun Island, where the Nigerian Navy recently thwarted an oil theft attempt. In a statement, Mr. Allen Sowore, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Strategic Communication, clarified that the island is part of Ondo State, not Ogun.
Sowore emphasized that the land, which shares a boundary with Ogun State, has always belonged to Ondo. He noted that the two states have well-defined borders and a longstanding, cordial relationship based on mutual respect.
Recent reports suggested that the island fell within Ogun State, but Sowore dismissed this as a deliberate misrepresentation, stating the oil well is situated on Eba Island, part of the Ilaje/Mahin Country in the old Lagos Colony. The area later became part of Ondo State after the 1914 Amalgamation and has remained under Ondo’s jurisdiction since.
Sowore further outlined the historical context of the island’s inclusion in Ondo, stressing that the surrounding communities—Ago Alaja, Balogun Bode, and Fasuyi—are all part of Ondo State. He also highlighted the role of the Ondo government in appointing local chiefs and overseeing governance in these villages.
The Ondo State government has called for the National Boundary Commission (NBC) and other relevant agencies to provide clear documentation to resolve any confusion and uphold the accurate territorial boundaries. The statement reassured the Federal Government of Ondo’s commitment to safeguarding the oil well asset and collaborating with security agencies to ensure its protection.
