RMAFC disowns report on alleged ceding of disputed oil wells to states
By Abasi Ita
The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission has dismissed reports suggesting that it has recommended the transfer of disputed crude oil and gas wells to certain oil producing states, describing the claims as inaccurate and premature.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Commission’s Chairman, Mohammed Shehu, said the attention of the agency was drawn to a purported report allegedly released by the Inter Agency Committee on the Verification of Coordinates of Disputed Crude Oil and Gas Wells between States.
According to him, the circulating report, which claims that specific oil wells had already been ceded to some states, does not reflect the position or conclusions of the Commission.
He stressed that no final recommendation or decision has been taken regarding the ceding or reallocation of any oil wells, noting that due institutional processes are still ongoing.
The Commission explained that it follows clearly defined and transparent procedures in handling matters of national importance and that deliberations on the disputed oil wells have not been concluded.
RMAFC disclosed that it only received a draft report from the Federal Government’s Inter Agency Committee on Nigeria’s Oil Producing States on February 13, 2026. The draft reportedly projected Cross River State as an oil producing state.
The report covers the nationwide verification of crude oil and gas coordinates spanning 2017 to 2025. It was presented to the RMAFC chairman by 10 out of the 14 members of the committee.
The verification exercise, conducted between August 2025 and February 2026, involved field inspections, technical reconciliation of submissions from states, and a plenary plotting of coordinates at the Commission’s headquarters from January 24 to 31, 2026.
An independent media source monitoring activities at the chairman’s office confirmed the submission and described it as one of the most comprehensive coordinate verification exercises undertaken in recent years.
The Commission stated that in line with established protocol, the draft report has been forwarded to key technical and statutory stakeholders, including the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the National Boundary Commission, and the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation, for detailed review and technical input.
It added that after receiving feedback from the relevant agencies, the matter would undergo further examination by its internal tripartite committees, namely the Committee on Crude Oil, Gas and Investment and the Legal Matters Committee.
These committees are expected to carry out comprehensive technical and legal reviews before presenting their findings to the Commission’s plenary for deliberation and final recommendations.
RMAFC maintained that upon completion of all institutional processes, its final report would be transmitted to the President and the Attorney General of the Federation for consideration and appropriate action in accordance with existing laws and constitutional provisions.
