Indigenes of Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State have petitioned Governor Dapo Abiodun over an alleged plan to move the approved site for oil exploration from Tongeji Island to another location.
In a petition dated January 23, 2026, and signed by the Baamofin of Ipokia Kingdom, Barrister Lawal Orisadare, on behalf of concerned residents of the local government, the community called on the governor to clearly state the exact location approved for oil exploration in the state.
The petitioners alleged that some individuals were already using the media to reinterpret an earlier statement credited to the governor, in which he reportedly said that President Bola Tinubu had approved oil exploration at Tongeji Island.
According to a statement earlier issued by the Ogun State Government, Governor Abiodun had said this while receiving the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abubakar Mustapha, during a courtesy visit in Abeokuta.
“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,” the governor was quoted as saying.
The governor was also quoted as saying that the proposed Olokola Port, which had stalled for years, was back on the table following President Tinubu’s intervention.
However, confusion later arose after some online reports claimed that the approved site for oil exploration was Eba community in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area, not Tongeji Island.
Reacting to the reports, the Ipokia indigenes said 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 and Ogun State.
They noted that successive administrations had consistently identified Tongeji Island as the focus of oil exploration efforts in the state.
The petitioners also raised security concerns, alleging that the discovery of oil had attracted foreign interest, particularly from the Republic of Benin, which they claimed had in the past attempted to take over the island.
According to them, the presence of the Nigerian Navy on the island had helped to secure the area and protect the community from external influence.
The indigenes said they were initially encouraged by the governor’s announcement that oil exploration had been approved for Tongeji Island, but later became worried by reports suggesting a shift to Eba community in Ogun Waterside.
They also accused the Ogun State Government of neglecting development in Ipokia Local Government, citing the abandoned Ogun State Polytechnic established during the administration of former governor Ibikunle Amosun.
They claimed that despite inspections carried out during Governor Abiodun’s first term, including visits by commissioners, the institution remained abandoned, with facilities now overgrown and dilapidated.
The petitioners urged the governor to reaffirm the approval for oil exploration in Tongeji Island, warning that any reversal would be a major setback for the area.
Reacting to the controversy, the Ogun State Government admitted that its earlier statement wrongly indicated that oil drilling would commence on Tongeji Island.
The governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Mr Kayode Akinmade, said the error was due to misinformation by the press officer who drafted the statement.
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“It was not Tongeji. The press officer who wrote the statement was misinformed. I contacted editors to withdraw the story, but it had already spread widely on social media,” Akinmade said.
He clarified that Governor Abiodun had referred to Eba community in Ogun Waterside as the approved site for oil exploration.
According to him, Eba is located close to the Olokola deep seaport, which has also received approval, making it more suitable for immediate exploration activities.
Akinmade added that although Tongeji Island has oil in commercial quantities, it is offshore, difficult to access, and shares a border with the Republic of Benin, meaning significant infrastructure would be required before exploration could begin.
He appealed to the people of Ipokia to remain calm, assuring them that the government was mindful of the situation and the long-term potential of Tongeji Island.
