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•Delta, Ondo, 8 others involved in fresh exercise
From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja
The federal government has begun a fresh physical verification of disputed crude oil and gas wells in nine states to settle disagreements over their locations and ensure that oil-producing states receive their rightful share of revenue.
The affected states are Delta, Ondo, Edo, Anambra, Imo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River and Akwa Ibom.
The exercise, being coordinated by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), is aimed at establishing the exact locations of newly drilled oil and gas wells, which determine the states entitled to receive the 13 per cent derivation fund.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Owerri, Imo State, RMAFC Chairman, Dr Mohammed Bello Shehu, described the exercise as critical to ensuring accuracy, transparency and fairness in the sharing of derivation revenue. He explained that the commission had the constitutional responsibility of monitoring revenue paid into and distributed from the Federation Account, including ensuring that oil and gas-producing states receive their appropriate shares.
Shehu said the exact geographical coordinates and locations of oil and gas wells were important because they determine the legal and financial entitlements of the affected states.
He urged members of the Inter-Agency Technical Committee (IATC) and other technical officers involved in the exercise to carry out their duties with diligence, accuracy and professionalism.
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He insisted that all coordinates, technical assessments and physical observations recorded during the exercise must be accurate enough to withstand legal and official scrutiny. The exercise will involve examining disputed and newly drilled oil and gas well coordinates, physically inspecting affected wellheads, plotting their locations on approved maps and considering relevant court judgments to resolve outstanding disagreements.
Shehu directed the committee to submit its harmonised technical report and findings exclusively to RMAFC for review, ratification and formal adoption.
The IATC comprises relevant government agencies, including the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation, National Boundary Commission and Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.
According to a statement by RMAFC Head of Information and Public Relations, Mrs Maryam Umar Yusuf, Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, was represented at the event by the Commissioner for Petroleum, Emeka Mgbudem.
Several RMAFC commissioners and state government officials also attended the ceremony.
The exercise was conducted previously but is being repeated following issues raised during the earlier process. The commission said the fresh verification would ensure that all concerns were properly addressed and that the final findings were credible.
