Edo State anticipates clarity regarding its oil and gas entitlements as the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) commits to fairness in resolving long-standing disputes over oil and gas well locations.
Chairman of the commission, Dr. Mohammed Shehu, affirmed this commitment during a briefing in Abuja, emphasizing the ongoing verification and coordinate plotting of disputed and newly drilled oil and gas wells.
This process directly determines states’ eligibility for the constitutionally guaranteed 13% derivation fund. Edo State is among several oil-producing states affected by this exercise.
The outcome of this process holds significant fiscal implications for Edo State, particularly in revenue allocation from crude oil and gas production. Dr. Shehu assured that the commission will act impartially, urging Edo and other affected states to actively participate in the coordinate-plotting exercise for transparency and broad acceptance.
The verification exercise, initiated upon request by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), involves an Inter-Agency Technical Committee. Fieldwork was conducted with participation from surveyors-general of oil-producing states, including Edo.
Reports from the field have been submitted, and coordinate plotting is scheduled to commence, utilizing advanced equipment such as drones to access difficult terrain. Data analysis will be conducted with representatives from the affected states.
Dr. Shehu expressed optimism that the final report would reduce disputes among oil-producing states and clarify Edo’s oil and gas status. He thanked Edo and other states for their cooperation, reaffirming the commission’s commitment to ensuring fair revenue sharing from the federation account.
