RMAFC Moves to End Oil Well Disputes and Ensure Fair Pay for States
By Patience Ikpeme
The Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has started a major project to identify the exact locations of new and disputed oil wells across Nigeria.
This move is designed to make sure that the 13% derivation fund—money paid to states where oil and gas are produced—goes to the rightful owners without any favoritism.
Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu, Chairman of RMAFC, explained that a special team recently finished a massive field exercise covering oil-producing states like Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, Ondo, Edo, and Cross River. The team visited difficult areas, including deep waters and creeks, to get the right information.
“Whenever new oil fields start producing, states want to know who actually owns them so they can get that 13% derivation. We intend to do this work fairly and justly, without any bias. We have the data and we used drones in places where people could not go to get the exact coordinates” he said.
The Chairman noted that while many states naturally want to claim new oil fields, the final decision will be based strictly on physical facts. “Every state wants to own these wells, but it is the facts on the ground that will reveal the true owner. If a field needs to be shared between two states, then so be it. We don’t have any problems with the states because they have been part of the process and have seen the coordinates we took.”
Dr. Khadijah Sulaiman Kumo, the Director of Crude Oil at RMAFC, stated that this is a historic event because it is the first time the commission has gone this far to verify oil assets. She mentioned that the commission is using modern technology that makes it impossible to change or cheat the results.
“We are in the digital age, so there is nothing you can manipulate. The plotting of these coordinates is being done in the presence of the Surveyor Generals from the various states to keep everything transparent. Our commission is known for equity and justice” she said.
Dr. Kumo also pointed out that the work is being supported by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the state governors. She asked anyone who has doubts about the process to speak up now, as the results will be final.
According to her, “I want to assure the governors and all parties that this is a new Commission. We will be fair and do what we are supposed to do based on evidence. Nobody should think that the Commission can be compromised. After this is over, we will continue to look at other controversial areas to make sure we know exactly where Nigeria’s assets are located.”
The entire process, which includes the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Office of the Surveyor General, is expected to be finished very soon. If there are no legal delays, the final report should be ready by next week.
