By Awyetu Asabe Hope
There is disquiet over the disclosure that President Bola Tinubu has approved commencement of commercial oil drilling operations in Ogun State.
Governor Dapo Abiodun made the disclosure last Thursday while receiving the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abubakar Mustapha, during a courtesy visit in Abeokuta.
However, there are conflicting statements from the government on the locations of the drilling operations between Tongeji Island in Ipokia Local Government and Eba in Ogun Waterside LGA.
The first statement quoted Abiodun as saying: “Let me share with you that Mr. President has approved the commencement of commercial oil drilling operations at Tongeji Island, and going forward, you will begin to see a lot of activities there.”
A second statement from the government countered the first on the location, saying the oil drilling location approved by the President is Eba in Ogun Waterside LGA.
The government admitted the error and blamed it on a press officer who wrote the report that was sent out.
But indigenes of Ipokia Local Government have petitioned Governor Abiodun, alleging a plan to shift the approved site for oil exploration from Tongeji Island to another location.
In the petition dated January 23, 2026, and signed by the Baamofin of Ipokia Kingdom, Barrister Lawal Orisadare, on behalf of Concerned Ipokia Local Government Indigenes, the community urged the governor to clarify the exact location approved for oil exploration in the state.
The petitioners alleged that some individuals were already using the media to reinterpret the governor’s earlier statement that President Bola Tinubu had approved oil exploration at Tongeji Island.
The Ipokia indigenes wrote to the governor, insisting that oil deposits in Tongeji Island had long been confirmed in commercial quantities and describing the resource as critical to the economic future of the area and the state.
“Oil deposits in Tongeji Island have long been confirmed to exist in commercial quantities,” they stressed, noting, “This resource represents an enormous opportunity for economic development in our region and for Ogun State as a whole.”
They said successive administrations had consistently identified Tongeji Island as the focus of oil exploration efforts in Ogun State.
The indigenes claimed the oil discovery had attracted foreign interest, alleging that the Republic of Benin had in the past made attempts to take over the island due to the presence of oil.
“For many years, various administrations in Ogun State, from the military era through successive civilian governments, have recognised and advocated for the exploration of oil in Tongeji Island as a pathway to making Ogun State an oil-producing state,” the petition read.
The indigenes said they were initially encouraged by what they described as the governor’s announcement that Tinubu had approved oil exploration in Tongeji Island but were later confused by reports suggesting a shift to Eba in Ogun Waterside.
“We have been alarmed by reports suggesting that the approved site for oil exploration may have shifted to Eba in Ogun Waterside, while also mentioning a deep seaport in Ogun East Senatorial District. This abrupt change in narrative has left the people of Ipokia Local Government confused and concerned,” the aggrieved indigenes said.
They urged the governor to reaffirm the approval for oil exploration in Tongeji Island.
The administration initiated steps for exploration to establish Ogun as an oil-producing state, including creating the Gateway Oil and Gas Development Limited to oversee the project.
The Daniel administration (2003–2011) made efforts to secure the area for exploration and, with support from former President Olusegun Obasanjo, initiated plans to develop the island’s resources.
