The Federal Government has commenced the physical verification of disputed and newly drilled oil and gas fields across the Niger Delta region, in a move aimed at resolving longstanding boundary disputes and ensuring fair distribution of the 13% derivation fund.
The verification exercise is being spearheaded by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), following a surge in petitions from several oil-producing states over the ownership of certain oil and gas assets.
Chairman of the Commission, Mohammed Shehu, led the Inter-Agency Technical Committee to the Aneize oil field located in the Okpai area of Delta State on Monday. He said the verification exercise was initiated in response to concerns raised by state governors over the rightful ownership of oil fields situated near state boundaries.
“This inspection is part of our commitment to resolving boundary-related revenue concerns. We are here to verify the exact locations of oil fields and gas wells particularly in disputed and newly drilled areas,” Shehu stated.
The Inter-Agency Technical Committee comprises representatives from:
- RMAFC
- Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC)
- Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation
- National Boundary Commission
Shehu explained that the committee would also work with State Surveyor-Generals to verify the geospatial coordinates of oil and gas wells, using data from the NUPRC.
“Our mission is to ensure the accurate plotting of coordinates for both existing and newly drilled oil and gas fields, especially those developed between 2017 and now,” he added.
The exercise, he said, is rooted in the constitutional duty of the Commission to monitor accruals and disbursements from the Federation Account, as outlined in Paragraph 32(a), Part 1, Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Key Oil Fields Under Review
Among the oil assets under dispute and now subject to verification are:
- Aneize Oil Field (OML 143)
- Eyine Field
- Ameshi Field
These assets have been at the centre of claims by Anambra, Imo, and Delta States, all of which are seeking rightful recognition as host states for revenue-sharing purposes.
Shehu noted that the technical team would extend the verification exercise to other oil-producing states, including Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Ondo, and Edo, to address all outstanding petitions.
“This initiative is designed to not only settle ownership disputes but also to guarantee that each oil-producing state gets its equitable share of the 13% derivation fund,” he said.
Toward Transparent Oil Revenue Allocation
The RMAFC Chairman emphasised that the entire process is being guided by transparency, accuracy, and fairness, with a goal to eliminate ambiguity in the location of energy assets that contribute to the national purse.
“Our work will help secure the integrity of the Federation Account, reduce inter-state tensions, and provide clarity that allows for fair resource distribution across oil-rich regions,” Shehu concluded.
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