RMAFC Dismisses Claims of Ceding of Disputed Oil Wells as False and Misleading

The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission says reports claiming some disputed oil wells have been ceded to certain states are false and misleading. The Commission was reacting to a report circulating in parts of the media, suggesting recommendations had already been made. In a statement, RMAFC Chairman, Mohammed Bello Shehu, says no final decision has been reached, explaining that only a draft report has been received. "The attention of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has been drawn to a purported report allegedly issued by the Inter-Agency Committee on the Verification of Coordinates of Disputed Crude Oil and Gas Wells between States, which is currently circulating in sections of the national media, including a report aired on ARISE News. The report claims that recommendations have been made to cede certain oil wells to specific states. "The Commission wishes to categorically state that the purported report is misleading, premature, and does not represent the position or conclusions of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission. 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. Shehu noted that the draft was still undergoing technical and legal reviews by relevant agencies, adding that "The Commission operates a clearly defined and transparent procedure in the discharge of assignments of this national significance. The Commission only recently received a draft report from the Inter-Agency Committee on Friday, 13th February 2026. Consistent with established protocol, the draft document has been transmitted to relevant technical and statutory stakeholders, namely the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the National Boundary Commission (NBC), and the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation (OSGOF), for detailed review, observations, and technical input." He said "following receipt of the observations and recommendations from these agencies, the matter will be subject to further scrutiny by the Commission’s internal tripartite Committees, comprising the Committee on Crude Oil, Gas and Investment and the Legal Matters Committee. These committees will undertake comprehensive technical and legal reviews before presenting their findings to the Plenary Session of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission for deliberation and final recommendations." "Upon completion of these institutional processes, the Commission’s final report will be formally transmitted to the President and the Attorney-General of the Federation for necessary consideration and further action in accordance with applicable laws and constitutional provisions", he added. He urged the public and stakeholders to disregard claims that decisions had been reached, and await official communication after due process was completed. "In view of the above clearly established procedures, the Commission considers the report currently circulating in the media as speculative, inaccurate, and capable of misleading the public. The RMAFC therefore urges members of the public, stakeholders, and media organisations to disregard the purported report and await official communication from the Commission upon completion of the statutory review process. "The Commission remains committed to transparency, due process, and the objective discharge of its constitutional mandates in the national interest."