By Atoyebi Nike
The Federal Government has launched a verification exercise of disputed and newly drilled crude oil and gas fields in the Niger Delta to resolve ownership disputes and ensure fair revenue allocation.
Chairman of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Dr. Mohammed Shehu, told journalists in Asaba that the initiative is mandated by the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
He said the verification would cover states including Delta, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Ondo, Edo, Anambra, and Imo, where disputes over ownership of oil fields such as Aneize (OML 143), Eyine, and Ameshi have persisted.
According to him, the Inter-Agency Technical Committee (IATC) comprising RMAFC, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation (OSGOF), and the National Boundary Commission (NBC) will oversee the exercise.
Shehu explained that the process will use geospatial data from NUPRC, validated by state surveyor-generals, to plot accurate coordinates of oil and gas wells drilled since 2017.
He stressed that the move will ensure equitable disbursement of the 13% derivation fund, reduce inter-state tensions, and strengthen transparency in revenue sharing.
“This initiative is a proactive step to ensure every oil-producing state receives its rightful share of resources while safeguarding the federation account,” Shehu said.
