The Ogun State House of Assembly has appealed to the National Boundary Commission (NBC) to urgently intervene in the lingering boundary dispute between Ogun and Oyo States, warning that failure to act promptly could escalate tensions in the affected communities.
The call was made during a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Assembly on Thursday at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
The meeting brought together representatives of boundary communities in Odeda Local Government Area, top government officials, and lawmakers to deliberate on the land dispute involving residents of Ogun and their Oyo State neighbours.
Speaking at the meeting, the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Yusuf Sherif, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that the National Boundary Commission must step in to clearly identify the boundary points between the two states.
“This meeting is a follow-up to our earlier engagement with Oyo State lawmakers. We need the National Boundary Commission to step in without further delay,” he said.
Sherif was joined by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Lateefat Ajayi, and other lawmakers including Hon. Lukman Adeleye, Hon. Dickson Awolaja, Hon. Seun Adesanya, Hon. Damilare Mohammed Bello, and Hon. Adegoke Adeyanju.
As part of its efforts to resolve the matter, the House also extended an invitation to the Ogun State Commissioner of Police and the Chairman of Odeda Local Government for a follow-up meeting scheduled for Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at 10:00 a.m.
The lawmakers urged residents of the affected communities to maintain peace and submit all relevant historical and legal documents that could assist the Commission and the Assembly in establishing rightful ownership of the disputed areas.
“Dialogue remains key,” said Hon. Lukman Adeleye. “Let us gather the facts and allow institutions to do their job so we can avoid unnecessary conflict.”
Also speaking at the meeting, the Acting Surveyor-General of the State, Oladele Ewulo, and a representative of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. James Mafe, called on the communities to abide by the rule of law and present all necessary documentation.
“We understand your frustration,” Ewulo noted. “But the best support you can offer now is documentation — especially historic records that show the rightful ownership of the land.”
Community leaders present at the meeting raised concerns about repeated invasions and alleged attempts by residents of Ibarapa and Ido in Oyo State to encroach on lands belonging to Ogun State.
The Oluwo of Ilugun, Chief Bashiru Faleke; Baale of Bakatari, Chief Ayinde Popoola; Akogun of Ilugun, Chief Kamorudeen Adeniran; and Baale of Abaka, Chief Adenekan Olanrewaju, recounted instances where boundary pillars erected by the NBC were tampered with and farmlands and homes were damaged.
“Our farmlands have been destroyed, homes damaged, and our people live in fear,” Chief Faleke lamented. “If nothing is done quickly, the situation could escalate.”
They appealed to the Assembly for swift intervention to forestall a potential breakdown of law and order in the border communities.
In response, the Ogun State House of Assembly reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing all peaceful and legal avenues, including engaging the Oyo State Government and the NBC, to bring lasting resolution to the boundary impasse.
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