A wave of controversy has trailed the disclosure that President Bola Tinubu has approved the commencement of commercial oil drilling operations in Ogun State, following conflicting statements by the state government on the exact location of the proposed exploration. The development has sparked concern among host communities, particularly in Ipokia Local Government Area, where residents fear a possible shift of the approved site.

The issue came to public attention after Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, announced last Thursday that the President had granted approval for commercial oil drilling during a courtesy visit by the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abubakar Mustapha, in Abeokuta. According to the governor’s initial statement, the approved drilling location was Tongeji Island in Ipokia Local Government Area.

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Governor Abiodun was quoted as saying that activities would soon commence on Tongeji Island, adding that residents should expect increased economic and infrastructural developments in the area. He also revealed that President Tinubu had approved the immediate take-off of the long-delayed Olokola Deep Seaport project in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area, describing both initiatives as projects of special interest to the President.

According to the governor, the Olokola Deep Seaport would help decongest Lagos ports, while oil drilling in the coastal communities would promote inclusion, job creation, and economic empowerment for residents.

However, confusion soon followed the announcement when a second statement from the state government contradicted the first, claiming that the oil exploration site approved by the President was Eba, located in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area. The government later admitted that the earlier report was erroneous and blamed the inconsistency on a press officer.

Conflicting Claims Spark Community Concerns

The clarification did little to calm tensions, as indigenes of Ipokia Local Government formally petitioned Governor Abiodun, alleging a plan to relocate the approved oil exploration site from Tongeji Island to another area. In a petition dated January 23, 2026, and signed by the Baamofin of Ipokia Kingdom, Barrister Lawal Orisadare, the concerned residents urged the governor to clearly state the exact location approved for oil drilling.

The petitioners accused unnamed individuals of using the media to reinterpret the governor’s earlier statement, which explicitly mentioned Tongeji Island as the approved site. They stressed that oil deposits in Tongeji Island had long been confirmed in commercial quantities and described the resource as vital to the economic future of both Ipokia Local Government and Ogun State at large.

According to the indigenes, successive administrations, from the military era to recent civilian governments, had consistently identified Tongeji Island as the focal point of oil exploration efforts in the state. They further claimed that the discovery of oil on the island had attracted foreign interest, alleging that the Republic of Benin had previously attempted to exert influence over the area because of its oil potential.

The petition also highlighted security concerns, noting that the continued presence of the Nigerian Navy on Tongeji Island had been instrumental in maintaining stability and safeguarding Nigeria’s sovereignty in the area.

Residents said they were initially encouraged by Governor Abiodun’s announcement but became alarmed by subsequent reports suggesting that the approved site may have shifted to Eba in Ogun Waterside. They warned that any reversal of the original approval would amount to a major setback to the aspirations of the Ipokia people.

Historical records indicate that oil was first identified on Tongeji Island around 2004 during the administration of former Governor Gbenga Daniel. His government reportedly initiated steps toward exploration, including the establishment of Gateway Oil and Gas Development Limited, with the aim of making Ogun an oil-producing state.

As debates continue, observers say the controversy underscores the need for clarity and transparency from the government to prevent community unrest and protect investor confidence in the state’s emerging oil and gas ambitions.