Ugwuanyi seeks oil-producing status for Enugu

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has urged the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to hasten the designation of Enugu as an oil-bearing state.

He made the appeal when he received commissioners and top management of the commission, led by the Chairman, Indices and Disbursement Committee, Chris Akomas, who were on a courtesy visit to Government House, Enugu, yesterday.

The delegation is in the state for an interactive session with members of the State Executive Council, 17 council chairmen and other stakeholders as part of an ongoing nationwide sensitisation on review of existing revenue allocation formula for equity, justice and fairness.

Represented by his deputy, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, the governor stated that the request became imperative owing to the volume of crude oil being exploited in the state.

He drew attention to the fact that, “Enugu is about the only state in Nigeria which produces crude oil in commercial quantity without being formally accorded the status of an oil-bearing state.”

Ugwuanyi pointed out that, “years of oil exploration in the Enugu/Anambra/Kogi states’ joint border corridor have resulted in the successful exploitation of crude oil in the area, which includes a large part of Enugu State’s territory.”

He added: “On a desirable allocation formula for the country, the Enugu State Government, after considering all the relevant factors and parameters, is proposing 50-50 to the three states.”