The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has embarked on the verification of disputed and newly drilled oil and gas fields in the Niger Delta region.
 
The Chairman of RMAFC, Dr Mohammed Shehu, who led the committee to the Aneize oil field in the Okpai area of Delta State yesterday, said the verification became necessary following various petitions by states.
 
Shehu said the RMAFC, in collaboration with sister agencies, had inaugurated the Inter-Agency Technical Committee to identify the locations of crude oil and gas fields and wells within the disputed areas.
 
He said: “RMAFC, in collaboration with the sister agencies, embarked on this important inspection with a view to addressing boundary issues.
 
“We are reaffirming our unwavering commitment to accurately identifying the locations of crude oil and gas fields and wells within the disputed areas and the newly drilled crude oil and gas wells.

 “The committee comprises the RMAFC, representatives of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), representatives of the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation (OSGOF), and representatives of the Office of the National Boundary Commission (NBC).

“Paragraph 32 (a) part 1 of the third schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) empowers the RMAFC, amongst other functions, to monitor accruals into and disbursement of revenue from the Federation Account.
 
“This was based on formal concerns expressed by the executive governors of some states, such as Anambra, Imo, and Delta, regarding the rightful ownership and territorial boundaries of specific crude oil and gas assets.”
 
Shehu noted that key among these is the Aneize oil field within OML 143, as well as the Eyine and Ameshi fields. He added that during the committee’s stay in Delta State, the Inter-Agency Technical Committee will address these matters thoroughly, examining the identified locations and verifying the coordinates of newly drilled oil and gas wells within the area, spanning from 2017 to the present.
 
The Chairman said the Committee will extend its activities to Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Ondo, Edo, and Rivers States, where it will rigorously assess and respond to the various complaints and petitions submitted by these states.