The Federal Government has commenced a fresh verification exercise on disputed and recently drilled crude oil and gas fields and wells across the Niger Delta.
Speaking at a press briefing in Asaba, Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Dr Mohammed Shehu, explained that the initiative was designed to guarantee that oil-producing states receive what is rightly due to them from the federation account.
He said the process was backed by the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which empowers the commission to monitor revenue inflows and oversee equitable disbursement.
According to him, several governors, including those of Anambra, Delta, Imo, Edo, Ondo and Rivers, had lodged petitions over ownership rights and territorial boundaries of some oil and gas fields.
To address these concerns, Shehu disclosed that an Inter-Agency Technical Committee (IATC) has been inaugurated. The team comprises representatives of the RMAFC, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation (OSGOF) and the National Boundary Commission (NBC).
He stated that the committee’s task includes authenticating the locations of crude oil fields and newly drilled wells, with special attention to assets such as the Aneize field within OML 143 as well as the Eyine and Ameshi fields. In Delta State, the verification will cover wells drilled between 2017 and the present.
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Shehu further explained that the exercise would be extended to Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Ondo, Edo and Anambra states. The process will rely on geospatial data provided by NUPRC, which will be validated and mapped, with state surveyor-generals expected to observe the exercise.
The RMAFC boss stressed that the ultimate aim was to ensure transparency in revenue allocation and reduce lingering disputes among oil-producing states.
He said, “this initiative is essential to ensure that every oil and gas producing state receives its rightful share of the resources to reduce tension and safeguard the integrity of the federation account.”
“By promoting transparency and fairness, we are laying the groundwork for a more stable and conducive environment for continued exploration and development across the region.”
