RMAFC Reconstitutes Committee to Verify Disputed Oil, Gas Wells

The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has inaugurated a reconstituted Inter-Agency Technical Committee (IATC) to verify the coordinates of disputed and newly drilled oil and gas wells across Nigeria from 2017 to date.

The commission said the exercise is aimed at strengthening fiscal transparency, equitable revenue allocation and institutional integrity in the management of the country’s oil and gas revenues.

Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, RMAFC Chairman, Mohammed Bello Shehu, said the exercise was in line with the commission’s constitutional mandate to monitor accruals to and disbursement of revenue from the Federation Account.

Shehu said the verification would also help ensure the equitable distribution of the 13 per cent Derivation Fund among oil and gas-producing states.

According to him, RMAFC discarded the previous draft report on the verification exercise following claims, counterclaims and complaints from various states.

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He said the concerns centred mainly on the need to re-verify the coordinates of disputed and newly drilled wells and accurately plot the verified coordinates on approved maps.

Shehu said the reconstituted committee must ensure that “every verified coordinate, map utilised and boundary evaluated reflects the actual situation on ground.”

He directed the committee to consider relevant court decisions, rely strictly on approved maps and conduct physical field verification of affected oil and gas wells where necessary.

The RMAFC chairman said the commission had established a two-tier governance structure to improve efficiency and accountability in the exercise.

The first tier comprises technical officers and subject-matter experts from RMAFC, the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation (OSGoF), the National Boundary Commission (NBC) and the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

He said the team would handle ground-level verification, field inspections, technical analysis and preparation of the initial report.

The second tier, known as the Executive Committee, will be led by the leadership of RMAFC and will provide strategic direction, coordinate the participating agencies and oversee final approvals before the findings are presented for formal ratification.

Shehu also said RMAFC would provide the committee with the necessary institutional support, including engaging relevant security authorities to facilitate administrative clearances, tactical assistance and security coverage during field operations in complex and coastal environments.

He added that Surveyors-General from affected states and representatives of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) would participate as observers to promote transparency.

The RMAFC chairman urged members of the committee to carry out the assignment with integrity, objectivity and patriotism.

He said the exercise was intended to achieve “clarity, fairness, stability and lasting resolution” of disputes over oil and gas wells among beneficiary states.

Shehu formally inaugurated the reconstituted IATC and expressed confidence that its work would strengthen the credibility of revenue monitoring and allocation in Nigeria.

The Secretary of the Commission, Tosin Adeyanju, also urged members of the committee to put the national interest first in carrying out the assignment.

Adeyanju called for objectivity, fairness and diligence, noting that the committee’s work would come under greater scrutiny because of lessons from previous verification exercises.

He expressed optimism that the committee would deliver a credible outcome that would make Nigeria and the affected states proud, describing the assignment as an opportunity to leave “a lasting legacy” of commitment to national development.

The inauguration was attended by the Chairman of the Crude Oil Monitoring Committee and Federal Commissioner representing Kano State, Adamu Abdu Fanda, as well as Federal Commissioners representing Osun, Edo, Yobe, Taraba, Zamfara, Jigawa and Ogun states.