The Federal Government has begun verification of disputed and newly drilled crude oil and gas fields and wells in the Niger Delta.
Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Dr. Mohammed Shehu, disclosed this in Asaba on Monday, saying the exercise will ensure oil-producing states get their rightful share of resources.
Shehu said the move followed petitions from governors of Anambra, Delta, Imo, Edo, Ondo, and Rivers over ownership and boundary disputes involving oil and gas assets.
The verification is being conducted by an Inter-Agency Technical Committee comprising RMAFC, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation, and the National Boundary Commission.
Shehu said the team would focus on assets such as the Aneize oil field in OML 143, the Eyine and Ameshi fields, as well as newly drilled wells across the region from 2017 to date.
According to him, the exercise will rely on geospatial data validated by NUPRC and observed by state Surveyor-Generals to ensure transparency.
He stressed that the goal is to guarantee fair allocation of oil revenue and equitable disbursement of the 13 per cent derivation fund while resolving disputes among states.
“This initiative will reduce tension, safeguard the Federation Account, and promote a stable environment for continued exploration and development,” Shehu said.
