SEO Riders:
– Government begins verification of oil/gas fields in Niger Delta
– Fair allocation of derivation revenue for oil-producing states
– Resolving boundary disputes over newly drilled wells
The Federal Government of Nigeria has initiated a verification process for disputed and recently drilled oil and gas fields and wells in the Niger Delta. Dr. Mohammed Shehu, Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), said this exercise aims to ensure that every oil-and-gas-producing state receives its fair share of revenue. The move is in line with the 1999 Constitution (as amended), particularly Paragraph 32(a) of Part I of the Third Schedule, and responds to petitions from governors of Anambra, Delta, Imo, Edo, Ondo, and Rivers seeking clarification of ownership and territorial boundaries of certain assets.
An Inter-Agency Technical Committee (IATC)—made up of RMAFC, NUPRC, the Surveyor General’s Office, and the National Boundary Commission—has been formed to carry out the verification. They will rely on geospatial data, validate it, and map out coordinates of the oil and gas assets, particularly those newly drilled since 2017. The goal is to promote transparency, resolve long-standing disputes, and ensure equitable distribution of the 13% derivation fund among the affected states.