The Federal Government has launched a coordinated effort to resolve disputes over oil and gas wells in affected states by mapping verified coordinates of both contested and newly drilled sites. The initiative, spearheaded by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), began on Monday and will run through January 30, 2026.
RMAFC Chairman, Dr. Mohammed Shehu, emphasized the importance of active participation from oil-producing states, noting that the success of the exercise depends on full cooperation. He reassured stakeholders that the commission will maintain impartiality, upholding principles of fairness, equity, and justice throughout the process.
“The commission’s constitutional mandate includes monitoring revenue inflows and disbursements from the Federation Account, ensuring that the 13 percent derivation fund reaches oil- and gas-producing states equitably,” Shehu explained.
To facilitate this, an Inter-Agency Technical Committee (IATC) has been established, involving the National Boundary Commission, the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, and RMAFC.
The committee has already completed verification of well coordinates and is now moving to the plotting phase, which will accurately determine the locations of disputed wells and assign newly drilled wells to their rightful owners.
Dr. Khadija Kumo, Director of RMAFC’s Crude Oil Department, described the exercise as the most extensive verification of oil well coordinates ever conducted by the commission. “Our team visited field locations, including offshore sites, to ensure the coordinates submitted are accurate. The process is being carried out transparently, with state surveyor generals present at all times,” she said.
The plotting exercise is being conducted in phases across the affected states, including Edo, Delta, Ondo, Anambra, Imo, Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River.
The first day covered Edo and Delta, as well as Ondo and Delta. Subsequent days will focus on states such as Anambra, Imo, Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River, with the final day reserved for review and closure by the IATC.
Officials expressed optimism that the exercise will produce results acceptable to all parties, marking a significant step toward resolving longstanding conflicts over oil and gas well ownership.
