The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has inaugurated a reconstituted Inter-Agency Technical Committee (IATC) to verify disputed and newly drilled oil and gas wells from 2017 to date.
The exercise is aimed at strengthening fiscal transparency, promoting equitable revenue allocation and enhancing institutional integrity in the management of Nigeria’s oil and gas revenues.
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Speaking at the inauguration held at the Commission’s new boardroom on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, the Chairman of RMAFC, Dr. 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.
He said the verification would contribute to ensuring equitable distribution of the 13 per cent Derivation Fund among oil and gas-producing states.
Shehu explained that the Commission had discarded the previous draft report on the oil and gas wells verification exercise following claims, counterclaims and complaints from various states.
According to him, the concerns centred largely on the need to re-verify the coordinates of disputed and newly drilled wells and accurately plot the verified coordinates on approved maps.
He said the reconstituted IATC was expected to ensure that every verified coordinate, map used and boundary assessed reflected the actual situation on the ground.
The Chairman directed the committee to take relevant court decisions into consideration, rely strictly on approved maps and undertake physical field verification of affected oil and gas wells where necessary.
To promote efficiency and accountability, Shehu said a two-tier governance structure had been established for the exercise.
He explained that the first tier, comprising 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), would conduct ground-level verification, field inspections, technical analysis and prepare the initial report.
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The second tier, he said, would comprise an Executive Committee led by the leadership of RMAFC, which would provide strategic direction, coordinate the participating agencies and oversee final approvals before the findings are presented for formal ratification.
Shehu added that the Commission would provide the necessary institutional support, including engagement with relevant security authorities to facilitate administrative clearances, tactical assistance and security coverage during field operations, particularly in complex and coastal environments.
He further disclosed that Surveyors-General from affected states and representatives of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) would participate as observers to promote transparency in the process.
The RMAFC Chairman urged members of the committee to approach the assignment with integrity, objectivity and patriotism, stressing that the exercise was intended to promote clarity, fairness and lasting resolution of disputes over oil and gas wells among beneficiary states.
He formally inaugurated the reconstituted IATC and expressed confidence that its work would strengthen the credibility of revenue monitoring and allocation in the country.
The Secretary of the Commission, Comrade Tosin Adeyanju, thanked members of the committee for participating in the exercise and urged them to put the national interest first in discharging their responsibilities.
Adeyanju called for objectivity, fairness and diligence, noting that the committee’s work would attract significant scrutiny due to lessons from previous verification exercises.
He expressed optimism that the committee would deliver a credible outcome that would serve the interests of the nation and the affected states, while leaving a lasting legacy in national development.
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The inauguration was attended by the Chairman of the Crude Oil Monitoring Committee and Federal Commissioner representing Kano State, Hon. Adamu Abdu Fanda, as well as Federal Commissioners representing Osun, Edo, Yobe, Taraba, Zamfara, Jigawa and Ogun states.
Representatives of relevant government agencies also attended the event.