In a move that caught many by surprise, the Lagos State Government has dragged its Ogun State neighbour before the National Boundary Commission over boundary issues which has led to communal clashes between communities at the borderlines.

To forestall further communal clashes among residents of border communities, the Lagos State Government has approached the boundary commission to challenge Ogun State Government’s claim to land along the borderline between both states.

The Lagos State Government is asking the boundary commission to come and delineate where lands between communities falls.

This came barely six months after the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, declared that none of the state border land would be ceded to its neighbours including Lagos and Oyo states.

Announcing Lagos State Government’s decision during the 2025 ministerial press briefing on Thursday, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, Bolaji Roberts, noted that the government through the Ministry received and addressed several reports relating to boundary issues in 2024.

“Within the period under review the Department attended to several reports relating to boundary issues in the State and its neighbouring State, Ogun State in Ojodu LCDA and Ifo LGA in Ogun State, Ikoga Zebbe and Ado Odo Ota in Ogun State and Ode Omi.”

According to him, the decision to go before the Commission is derived from the Statutory Duties of the State Boundary Committee as established in the Lagos State Boundary Committee Law 2009 which serves as Secretariat of the State Boundary Committee, hence, it “oversees boundary matters within the State as well as with States that share borders with Lagos State, such as Ogun State and ensures that frictions between communities do not degenerate into communal clashes.

This is always done by adjudicating between warring parties and it has yielded successful results to the admiration of all parties.

Roberts reiterated that “in the year under review, the Ministry has installed 22 (twenty-two) Signposts in 9 (nine) Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas for delineation and management of intra and inter State boundaries.

The Ministry has also intervened in jurisdiction disputes among Royal Fathers in the State in conjunction with Office of the State Surveyor General – and as well intervened in the following boundary issues:

“Interstate Boundary Conflict Resolutions – The Ministry contacted the National Boundary Commission (NBC) on disputed Areas between Lagos State and Ogun State. Within the period under review the Department attended to several reports relating to boundary issues in the state and its neighbouring State, Ogun State in Ojodu LCDA and Ifo LGA in Ogun State, Ikoga Zebbe and Ado Odo Ota in Ogun State and Ode Omi.

“Intra Local Government Boundary Resolutions – The Ministry worked with the Office of the State Surveyor- General through series of site inspection visits to the following Local Governments/ Local Council Development Areas to resolve boundary conflicts; Badagry LGA/Oriade LCDA, Ikosi Ejirin LCDA, Ikorodu Central/Igbogbo Baiyeku LCDA. Mediations were encouraged between parties in Ikeja LGA/Ojodu LCDA, Iru/Victoria Island/Eti Osa. These disputed boundaries were settled amicably, thereby ensuring business stability, peaceful co-existence and growth in the state.

“This effort has ensured peaceful communal existence and zero-level communal clashes. The resultant effect is the ease of doing business, continued growth, and the desire of many to make Lagos a business destination as Lagos residents and foreigners undergo and undertake their daily businesses without fear of chaos or communal clashes.”