By VIVIAN EMONI

The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has assured affected oil producing states that it would ensure justice and fairness in resolving disputes over the location of oil and gas wells.

Dr Mohammed Shehu, Chairman of the RMAFC, gave the assurance in Abuja on Monday while briefing newsmen on the plotting of coordinates for disputed and newly drilled oil/gas wells across affected oil producing states.

Shehu explained that the disputed oil locations cut across producing states of Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Bayelsa, Edo, Ondo, Rivers, Delta and offshore areas.

He promised that the commission would conduct the process fairly, justly and equitably, without bias, noting that the plotting would last for some days.

According to him, I want to assure the affected parties that the commission will be an unbiased umpire and will deploy justice, equity, and fairness for which it is known.

“It is in respect of this development that I urge the representatives of the affected oil producing states to actively participate, while plotting the verified coordinates, so that the outcome will be acceptable to all.’’

Shehu noted that the commission was saddled to monitor accruals and disbursement of revenue from the federal account.

He added that the RMAFC was empowered to ensure that the 13 per cent derivation fund was disbursed equitably among oil and gas producing states.

He said the exercise was constitutionally required to determine states entitled to the 13 per cent derivation from crude oil and gas production.

The chairman said that the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) wrote to the RMAFC to verify coordinates of new and disputed oil wells.

He added that the commission inaugurated an Inter-Agency Technical Committee (IATC) in July, 2025, comprising NUPRC, the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation and the National Boundary Commission.

According to him, the committee conducted fieldwork between September and October, 2025 and surveyor-generals of oil-producing states participated as witnesses during the coordinate-taking exercise.

“The team visited creeks offshore locations and high seas and the field exercise was concluded recently, while the reports from the exercise has been submitted and plotting of coordinates would begin shortly,”.

Shehu described the exercise as a continuation of verification to resolve long-standing boundary and ownership disputes among states.

He said the aim was to determine rightful beneficiaries of the 13 per cent derivation whenever new oil fields began production.

According to him, coordinate plotting will take about five days, using advanced equipment, including drones, to access difficult locations.

He said that data analysis would be conducted in the presence of representatives of the affected states.

Shehu said no state was currently at loggerheads as claims were natural until facts established ownership.

He said where oil fields fell between states; resources could be shared based on verified facts, adding that the final report should be ready next week, provided there was no dispute or litigation.

He thanked the states for their cooperation, diligence and participation throughout the exercise, expressing hope that the outcome would reduce disputes among oil-producing states. (NAN)

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