The Federal Government has launched a verification exercise to settle long-running ownership disputes surrounding oil and gas fields in the Niger Delta, with the aim of ensuring fair revenue distribution among producing states.

Dr. Mohammed Shehu, Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), disclosed in Asaba that the initiative will cover both disputed fields and newly drilled wells across the region. He explained that the review is backed by constitutional provisions empowering the commission to monitor revenue inflows and oversee disbursements from the federation account.

According to Shehu, the move follows persistent complaints from governors of Anambra, Delta, Imo, Edo, Ondo, and Rivers, who have challenged the territorial ownership of certain oil and gas assets. Among the fields under review are the Aneize field in OML 143, as well as the Eyine and Ameshi sites.

The exercise will be carried out by an Inter-Agency Technical Committee (IATC) that brings together officials from the RMAFC, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation (OSGOF), and the National Boundary Commission (NBC). Geospatial mapping and field validation will be central to the process, with Surveyor-Generals from affected states participating as observers.

Shehu stressed that the goal is to use accurate coordinate mapping to guarantee a transparent allocation of the 13% derivation fund and reduce tensions over boundary disputes. He described the effort as both a proactive and stabilizing measure for the oil-rich region.

“This initiative will help ensure every oil-producing state receives its rightful share, safeguard the federation account, and create a more conducive environment for future exploration,” he said.

The verification is expected to extend beyond Delta State to Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Ondo, Edo, and Anambra in the coming weeks.