Tension has emerged in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State following conflicting narratives over the location approved for commercial oil exploration, prompting community leaders to formally petition Governor Dapo Abiodun for clarification.

The petition, dated January 23, 2026, was submitted by concerned indigenes of Ipokia and signed by the Baamofin of #Ipokia Kingdom, Barrister Lawal Orisadare. The petitioners expressed alarm over reports suggesting a possible shift in the approved oil exploration site from #Tongeji Island to Eba community in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area.

Read story about the announcement here: badagryforum.com.ng/p/117/commercial-oil-drilling-kicks-off-on-tongeji-island-ipokia-o

Their concerns followed an earlier public statement credited to Governor Abiodun, in which he was quoted as saying that President Bola Tinubu had approved the commencement of commercial oil drilling activities at Tongeji Island. The announcement had generated widespread optimism among residents, who view the island as a long-established oil-bearing area with significant economic potential.

Tongeji Island, located along the Ogun–Benin Republic border and historically secured by the Nigerian Navy, has long featured in discussions around Ogun State’s ambition to become an oil-producing state. Community leaders argue that successive administrations, dating back to the military era, have consistently identified the island as a priority location for oil exploration due to confirmed deposits in commercial quantities.

However, the narrative shifted after the Ogun State Government issued a clarification, admitting that its initial communication was inaccurate. The Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to the Governor, Mr Kayode Akinmade, stated that the earlier reference to Tongeji Island was the result of a drafting error and did not reflect the governor’s actual remarks.

According to Akinmade, the President’s approval was specifically for oil exploration activities in Eba community, Ogun Waterside, an area close to the proposed Olokola Deep Seaport. He explained that while Tongeji Island is known to contain oil deposits, its offshore location, border proximity with the Republic of Benin and the absence of critical infrastructure currently pose logistical and security challenges.

Despite the clarification, indigenes of Ipokia have maintained that the apparent change in narrative has deepened concerns over long-standing neglect of the local government area. They cited abandoned state assets, including the Ogun State Polytechnic in Ipokia, as evidence of unmet development promises and warned that excluding Tongeji Island from immediate exploration plans would further marginalise the area.

The petitioners urged the state government to provide a clear, public position on the future of oil exploration in Tongeji Island, stressing that the resource remains central to the economic aspirations of Ipokia Local Government and Ogun State at large.

While the Ogun State Government has appealed for calm, the development has reignited debate around resource control, regional equity and transparency in the state’s emerging oil and maritime economy, with stakeholders now closely watching how the administration balances infrastructure readiness with community expectations.