Indigenes of Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State have formally petitioned Governor Dapo Abiodun over concerns that the state government may be planning to relocate the approved site for oil exploration from Tongeji Island to another community.
In a 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 petition followed reports suggesting that the oil exploration project earlier announced for Tongeji Island might instead be sited at Eba community in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area.
The indigenes alleged that some individuals were already using the media to reinterpret the governor’s earlier remarks, which credited President Bola Tinubu with approving oil drilling activities at Tongeji Island.
A statement earlier issued by the Ogun State Government had quoted Abiodun as making the announcement while receiving the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abubakar Mustapha, during a courtesy visit in Abeokuta.
The statement attributed to the governor said the president had approved the commencement of commercial oil drilling operations at Tongeji Island and that activities would soon begin there.
The governor was also quoted as speaking on the proposed Olokola Deep Sea Port, describing it as a revived federal initiative driven by the President to boost economic development in the state.
However, confusion arose after some online media platforms reported that the approved oil exploration site was Eba community in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area, not Tongeji Island in Ipokia.
Reacting, the Ipokia indigenes insisted that oil deposits in Tongeji Island had long been confirmed in commercial quantities and described the resource as critical to the economic future of both the local government area and Ogun State.
They maintained that successive administrations, from the military era through civilian governments, had consistently identified Tongeji Island as the focal point of oil exploration efforts in the state.
The petition also raised security concerns, alleging that the discovery of oil had attracted foreign interest, particularly from the Republic of Benin.
According to the indigenes, past attempts by Beninese authorities to engage inhabitants of the island underscored the strategic importance of Tongeji and the need for Nigeria to maintain a firm presence there.
They credited the consistent presence of the Nigerian Navy on the island with safeguarding the area and maintaining Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
The indigenes said they were initially encouraged by what they described as the governor’s announcement approving oil exploration in Tongeji Island but were later alarmed by reports suggesting a shift to Eba community in Ogun Waterside.
Beyond the oil issue, the petitioners accused the state government of neglecting development in Ipokia Local Government. They cited the abandoned Ogun State Polytechnic established during the administration of former governor Ibikunle Amosun, noting that despite assessments carried out by officials during Abiodun’s first term, the institution remained dilapidated and overgrown.
The indigenes urged the governor to publicly reaffirm the approval for oil exploration in Tongeji Island, warning that any deviation would amount to a major setback to the aspirations of the people.
Responding to the controversy, the Ogun State Government admitted that its earlier statement was inaccurate. The Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to the governor, Kayode Akinmade, explained that the statement wrongly referenced Tongeji Island as the approved site.
Akinmade said the governor had actually referred to Eba community as the location approved for oil exploration, adding that the site is only a few kilometres from the proposed Olokola Deep Sea Port.
He acknowledged that Tongeji Island also has oil in commercial quantity but noted that significant infrastructure challenges remain, including offshore access and its proximity to the Republic of Benin.
Akinmade further disclosed that oil was discovered in Eba many years ago, which was why the Dangote Group had once considered siting its refinery there before relocating the project to Lekki, Lagos State.
He appealed to the people of Ipokia to remain calm, assuring them that the state government was mindful of the area’s potential but stressing that extensive infrastructure would be required before oil exploration could begin at Tongeji Island.