Commission insists review process is still ongoing, describes circulating report on disputed crude wells as speculative and misleading…..
The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has distanced itself from reports suggesting that disputed crude oil and gas wells have already been recommended for transfer to certain oil-producing states.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Commission’s Chairman, Mohammed Shehu, said the agency’s attention had been drawn to what he described as a “purported report” allegedly released by the Inter-Agency Committee on the Verification of Coordinates of Disputed Crude Oil and Gas Wells between States.
According to the circulating claims, the committee had concluded deliberations and recommended that specific oil wells be ceded to particular states.
But the commission firmly rejected that narrative.
“At this stage, there is no finalised recommendation or decision regarding the ceding or reallocation of any oil wells, as due institutional processes are still ongoing,” the statement said.
Draft Report Under Review
RMAFC clarified that it only received a draft report from the inter-agency committee on Friday, February 13, 2026, and that the document is currently undergoing established review procedures.
In line with protocol, the draft has been forwarded to key technical and statutory stakeholders, including:
- The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission
- The National Boundary Commission
- The Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation
These agencies are expected to provide technical observations and professional input before any further steps are taken.
Once their feedback is received, the matter will proceed to RMAFC’s internal tripartite committees notably the Committee on Crude Oil, Gas and Investment and the Legal Matters Committee for comprehensive technical and legal scrutiny.
Only after these layers of review will the findings be presented to the Commission’s plenary session for deliberation and possible recommendations.
Final Decision Lies Beyond the Commission
The commission further explained that even after completing its internal processes, its final report would be transmitted to the President and the Attorney-General of the Federation for consideration and action in accordance with constitutional provisions.
Given this multi-stage process, RMAFC described the media report currently in circulation as “speculative, inaccurate, and capable of misleading the public.”
It urged stakeholders, state governments and media organisations to disregard the claims and await formal communication upon conclusion of the statutory review.
Earlier Call for Cooperation
The development comes weeks after the commission publicly appealed to oil-producing states to cooperate fully with the ongoing verification exercise.
Speaking at the January 2026 flag-off of the plotting of verified coordinates of disputed and newly drilled oil and gas wells in Abuja, Shehu emphasised that active participation by affected states was essential to ensure the credibility and acceptability of the outcome.
He assured stakeholders that the commission would remain neutral and guided strictly by due process throughout the exercise.
With tensions often surrounding revenue allocation tied to oil production, the commission’s latest clarification appears aimed at calming speculation while reinforcing its commitment to transparency and procedural integrity.
For now, RMAFC maintains that no oil well has been ceded and no final recommendation has been made.
