The Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Dr Mohammed Bello Shehu, OFR, has flagged off the physical verification of disputed and newly drilled crude oil and gas wells coordinates in some states across the country covering the period from 2017 to date.These states are:Delta, Ondo, Edo, Anambra, Imo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River and Akwa Ibom state.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Owerri, Imo State, on Wednesday, Dr Shehu described the exercise as critical to ensuring accuracy, transparency and fairness in the administration of the 13 per cent Derivation Fund. He noted that the Commission’s constitutional mandate include monitoring accruals to and disbursement of revenue from the Federation Account, as well as ensuring equitable distribution of derivation revenue among oil and gas-producing states.
The Chairman stressed that the determination of exact coordinates and spatial alignments for the subject wellheads directly governs the legal and financial entitlements of the respective sub-national entities. He consequently charged members of the Inter-Agency Technical Committee (IATC) and deployed technical officers to discharge the assignment with diligence, technical precision and professionalism, insisting that every verified coordinate, technical assessment, and physical observation conducted on-site must withstand rigorous statutory scrutiny.
According to him, the exercise will involve the examination of disputed and newly drilled oil and gas well coordinates, physical verification of affected wellheads, accurate plotting using approved maps and consideration of relevant court decisions in resolving disputes. Dr Shehu further directed that the Committee’s harmonised technical report and findings be submitted exclusively to RMAFC for ratification and formal adoption.
The IATC comprises relevant technical institutions, including the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation (OSGoF), the National Boundary Commission (NBC) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
The Imo State Governor was represented at the occasion by the Honourable Commissioner for Petroleum, Hon. Emeka Mgbudem. RMAFC Commissioners present included Hon. Adamu Abdu Fanda (Kano State), Chairman, Crude Oil Committee; Hon. Oladele Semiu Gboyega (Osun State), Chairman, Gas Committee; Hon. Ismail Mohammed Agaka (Kwara State), Chairman, Public Affairs and Communication Committee; Ambassador Ayuba Jacob Ngbako (FCT); Hon. Akpan Imo Effiong (Akwa Ibom State); and Hon. Helen Bob Inafa (Bayelsa State).
Other dignitaries present included the Imo State Commissioner for Lands, Surveyor Clement Nwabichie; the Commissioner for Finance and Coordinating Economy, Mr Chucks Chukwuemeka; and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Lands, Dr Angelina Ohiri.
It could be recalled that the exercise was earlier conducted but due to some issues the Commission thought it fit to repeat it in order to ensure that all the issues raised are adequately attended to.
The Chairman formally declared the physical field verification exercise open, reaffirming RMAFC’s commitment to accuracy, accountability and fairness in revenue allocation in accordance with its constitutional mandate.
Maryam Umar Yusuf, mnipr
Head, Information and Public Relations Unit
RMAFC