A' Ibom Dismisses Fresh Agitation Over 76 Oil Wells, Reaffirms Supreme Court Verdict
By Ekanem Asuquo
The Akwa Ibom State Government has dismissed renewed calls for a political resolution of the long-settled dispute over the ownership of 76 oil wells between it and neighbouring Cross River State, insisting that the matter was conclusively addressed by the Supreme Court over a decade ago.
Speaking during a live interview on ARISE TV on Sunday, the State Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Umanah, urged the public to ignore fresh narratives suggesting the issue is still open for review, reaffirming that the Supreme Court ruling of July 2012 remains binding and irreversible.
“This is a settled matter. The Supreme Court ruled on it over a decade ago and that judgment remains the law today. That’s the highest court in the land. Once the Supreme Court gives a ruling, it is final. This is not even a matter for further discussion,” Umanah stated.
Background to Renewed Discourse
The latest public interest in the oil wells dispute follows reported efforts by the Cross River State Government under Governor Bassey Otu to lobby the Federal Government for a political solution that could potentially reverse the 2012 Supreme Court judgment in Cross River’s favour. Sources within the state have confirmed that the government has made submissions to the presidency, appealing for a reconsideration of the matter on humanitarian and developmental grounds.
Cross River State lost the oil-rich areas after the ceding of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon, a development that subsequently affected its status as a littoral state and, by extension, its claim to offshore oil wells. In the ensuing legal battle, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of Akwa Ibom, transferring rights over the 76 oil wells and associated derivation revenue to the state.
The latest move by the Cross River State government has rekindled debates, particularly among political stakeholders and advocacy groups in the state, many of whom argue that the loss of the oil wells has deepened the state’s economic woes. They are now seeking a negotiated resolution through the intervention of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Akwa Ibom Holds Its Ground
However, the Akwa Ibom State Government insists the issue is beyond politics. Umanah made it clear that the matter is legally concluded and that any attempt to reopen it would not only undermine the integrity of the judiciary but also set a dangerous precedent.
He further emphasized that Akwa Ibom did not initiate the court case but merely benefitted from a just and final legal process.
In addition to addressing the oil well issue, Umanah used the ARISE TV platform to highlight the achievements of Governor Umo Eno’s administration under the ARISE Agenda—his comprehensive development framework.
He listed significant gains in education, agriculture, rural development, youth empowerment, security, support for small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), and infrastructure.
“What we have under Governor Umo Eno is not just a policy document, but a real, people-centred programme whose results are already visible across all parts of Akwa Ibom,” he said.
Umanah also referenced the recent visit by Governor Umo Eno, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and two other Senators from the state to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing it as a strategic move to deepen collaboration with the Federal Government.
He disclosed that discussions during the visit focused on attracting federal support for critical projects, including the Ibom Deep Seaport and other infrastructure initiatives aimed at bolstering economic growth and development.
The Commissioner concluded by calling on Akwa Ibomites to stay focused on progress and unity, rather than being distracted by already-resolved issues and politically motivated agitations.
