The Federal Government has initiated a verification exercise for disputed and newly drilled crude oil and gas fields and wells in the Niger Delta to ensure equitable revenue allocation among oil-producing states.
Dr. Mohammed Shehu, Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), announced the initiative during a press briefing in Asaba on Monday, September 22, 2025, citing its alignment with Paragraph 32(a), Part I of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The exercise, prompted by petitions from the governors of Anambra, Delta, Imo, Edo, Ondo, and Rivers States, seeks to resolve disputes over the ownership and territorial boundaries of key oil and gas assets, including the Aneize oil field within OML 143 and the Eyine and Ameshi fields.
Shehu revealed that the Inter-Agency Technical Committee (IATC), comprising representatives from 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 lead the effort.
“We are committed to accurately identifying the locations of crude oil and gas fields and wells in disputed areas and newly drilled sites from 2017 to date,” Shehu stated.
The verification will cover Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Ondo, Edo, and Anambra states, relying on geospatial data from NUPRC, which will be validated and plotted with oversight from state surveyor-generals.
The initiative aims to ensure fair disbursement of the 13% derivation fund to oil-producing states, addressing long-standing tensions over resource ownership.
“This exercise is a proactive step to promote transparency, reduce disputes, and safeguard the integrity of the federation account,” Shehu emphasized, adding that it will foster a stable environment for continued exploration and development in the region.
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