By Our Reporter
ABUJA (CONVERSEER) – The Federal Government has commenced the plotting of the disputed and newly drilled oil and gas wells. The Honourable Chairman, Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Dr Mohammed Bello Shehu, OFR, disclosed this on Monday, 26th January 2026, while addressing members of the press during the flag-off ceremony held at the headquarters of the Commission in Abuja.
According to Dr Shehu, the Inter-Agency Technical Committee (IATC), which was inaugurated by the RMAFC to verify the coordinates of the disputed and newly drilled oil and gas wells, has completed the exercise, and the next step is the plotting of the coordinates.
According to a statement by Maryam Umar Yusuf, Head, Information and Public Relations Unit, RMAFC, on Monday, Dr Shehu said, “The Commission inaugurated an Inter Agency Technical Committee (IATC) which comprises of the National Boundary Commission (NBC), the Office of the Surveyor General of Federation (OSGoF), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and RMAFC and saddled it with the responsibilities of verifying and plotting coordinates of the disputed and newly drilled oil and gas wells of the affected oil producing States, the IATC has verified the coordinates and the next phase is to plot the coordinates which would lead to resolving the location of the disputed oil and gas wells as well as attribute the newly drilled oil and gas wells to the rightful owners.”
Dr Shehu said the exercise was necessary to ensure that oil-producing states receive their rightful share of revenue in line with the Constitution. “The Constitution provides that 13 per cent of revenue from minerals, especially crude oil and gas, should be paid to the states where they are produced, this is why the verification and plotting of coordinates of the new and disputed oil and gas wells is not optional, but a constitutional obligation.” He said.
According to Dr Shehu, the exercise cuts across all oil-producing states, including Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Bayelsa, Ondo, Rivers, Delta, and offshore locations. He observed that disputes often arise whenever new oil fields come on stream, as multiple states may lay claim to them; however, he stressed that it is the facts on the ground that will reveal who actually owns what, and if ownership has to be shared between states.
To guarantee transparency and credibility, the Chairman disclosed that the Commission undertook extensive fieldwork between September 2025 and January 2026 covering creeks, high seas, and offshore terrains in the company of the Surveyors-Generals of the affected state throughout the exercise.
“We went to the field ourselves, and where we could not physically access, we deployed drones to take the coordinates,” Dr Bello said, adding that all data collected was witnessed by representatives of the affected states.
He assured stakeholders that the Commission would remain impartial throughout the process. Dr Shehu said, “RMAFC will be an unbiased umpire and will deploy justice, equity, and fairness for which it is known.” He expressed confidence that the outcome of the exercise would significantly reduce disputes and strengthen trust in the derivation process.
Dr Shehu commended the acting chairman of the crude oil monitoring committee, Hon. Hakeem Amosu and that of the Gas Monitoring Committeee Hon. Rabiu Garba for their guidance and support for the Committees, which have contributed immensely to their success.
ALSO READ: Sen. Williams begins construction of 2km Mkpani ring road
Earlier, in his address, the Secretary to the Commission, Joseph Okechukwu Nwaze, described the exercise as a product of commitment to duty and healthy inter-agency cooperation. He said the successful completion of the exercise would reinforce confidence in RMAFC’s role as a neutral institution committed to fairness in revenue administration and fiscal federalism.
In her opening remark, the Director, Crude Oil Department, RMAFC, Dr Khadija Kumo, said the exercise was timely and critical to the future of energy governance in Nigeria. She noted that beyond gross energy flow, attention must now shift to efficiency and the role of oil and gas in supporting the wider economy. She also commended the technical team and participating states for their collaboration and urged continued engagement to ensure sustainable, data-driven decision-making in the sector.
The Coordinator of the Inter Agency Technical Committee, Prince Folorunsho Aderinwala, eulogised the Chairman of the Commission for empowering the committee to successfully carry out the exercise by providing all the necessary support. He appreciated the members of the Committee for their commitment during the exercise
It could be recalled that in October 2025, the Commission Chairman flagged off the verification of the disputed and newly drilled crude oil and gas fields in the Niger Delta region by the Inter Agency and Technical Committee.
While addressing newsmen in Asaba, Delta State, Dr Shehu disclosed that the exercise was informed by petitions received from governors of Anambra, Delta, Imo, Edo, Ondo and Rivers states to ascertain the rightful ownership and boundaries of some crude oil and gas resources.
