The Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, has commenced a fresh physical verification of disputed and newly drilled crude oil and gas well coordinates in nine states to ensure fairness and accuracy in the distribution of the 13 per cent derivation fund.
The exercise, covering oil and gas wells drilled between 2017 and 2026, is expected to address outstanding disagreements over wellhead locations and establish the correct geographical boundaries for determining the revenue entitlements of affected states.
RMAFC Chairman, Dr Mohammed Bello Shehu, flagged off the exercise in Owerri, Imo State, on Wednesday, November 11, charging the technical team to ensure that the verification process meets the highest standards of accuracy, transparency and professionalism, according to a statement issued by the Commission’s Head of Information and Public Relations, Maryam Umar Yusuf.
The nine states covered by the exercise are Delta, Ondo, Edo, Anambra, Imo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River and Akwa Ibom.
Shehu described the assignment as central to the Commission’s constitutional responsibility of monitoring revenue accruing to and distributed from the Federation Account, particularly the administration of the 13 per cent derivation fund payable to oil and gas-producing states.
He explained that the precise geographical coordinates and locations of oil and gas wellheads determine the legal and financial entitlements of the affected states, making an accurate assessment essential to preventing errors and ensuring equitable revenue distribution.
The chairman urged members of the Inter-Agency Technical Committee, IATC, and other technical personnel deployed for the exercise to carry out their responsibilities diligently, warning that all field observations, technical assessments and verified coordinates must be sufficiently robust to withstand statutory scrutiny.
The verification will involve physical inspections of disputed and newly drilled wellheads, examination of their geographical coordinates, plotting of locations on approved maps and consideration of relevant court judgments to resolve outstanding disagreements.
Shehu directed that the committee’s harmonised technical report and findings be submitted exclusively to RMAFC for review, ratification and formal adoption.
The Inter-Agency Technical Committee comprises relevant technical institutions, including the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation, the National Boundary Commission and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.
The Commission explained that the latest exercise was necessary because an earlier verification had encountered issues that required further attention, prompting the decision to repeat the process to ensure that all outstanding concerns were adequately addressed.
Representing Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, at the flag-off ceremony, the state’s Commissioner for Petroleum, Emeka Mgbudem, joined other government officials and RMAFC commissioners at the event.
Those present included the Chairman of RMAFC’s Crude Oil Committee, Adamu Abdu Fanda; Chairman of the Gas Committee, Oladele Semiu Gboyega; Chairman of the Public Affairs and Communication Committee, Ismail Mohammed Agaka; as well as Commissioners Ayuba Jacob Ngbako, Akpan Imo Effiong and Helen Bob Inafa.
Other dignitaries included the Imo State Commissioner for Lands, Clement Nwabichie; Commissioner for Finance and Coordinating Economy, Chucks Chukwuemeka; and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Lands, Angelina Ohiri.
Shehu formally declared the field verification exercise open, reiterating the Commission’s determination to strengthen accountability, ensure accurate revenue assessment and promote fairness in the allocation of resources among the federating states.
