Calabar, Nigeria – The Cross River State Government has announced efforts to reclaim 76 oil wells that were ceded to Akwa Ibom State in 2012 following a Supreme Court ruling.
Governor Bassey Otu made this known on Tuesday during a media briefing in Calabar, emphasizing his administration’s determination to recover the oil wells, which he insists rightfully belong to Cross River.
Background of the Dispute
The legal battle over the oil wells dates back to the aftermath of Nigeria’s loss of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon. In 2002, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Bakassi belonged to Cameroon, based on historical Anglo-German agreements. Nigeria later handed over the peninsula in August 2008, altering Cross River’s territorial status.
Following this development, the Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that Cross River was no longer a littoral state and, therefore, ineligible to claim offshore oil wells. Justice Olufunlola Adekeye, delivering the lead judgment, stated that the state had lost its maritime boundaries, making its claim to offshore oil wells invalid. The ruling also absolved government agencies such as the National Boundary Commission and the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) of any wrongdoing in the matter.
Governor Otu’s Position
Despite the Supreme Court ruling, Governor Otu maintains that the oil wells were wrongly transferred to Akwa Ibom. He vowed to explore all legal and political avenues to reverse the decision.
“I am happy to let us know that even though we have not received any money from the wells, Akwa Ibom is also not getting anything for now from it. While a decision is yet to be made on where the wells rightfully belong, the proceeds are being kept in an escrow account by the authority,” Otu stated.
He expressed optimism about the ongoing efforts, stressing that Cross River will continue to pursue justice to regain control of the oil wells.
Implications of the Dispute
The dispute over the oil wells has significant economic implications for both states, as oil revenue plays a crucial role in their finances. While Cross River seeks to reclaim the wells, Akwa Ibom has also been unable to access revenue from them due to the legal complexities surrounding ownership.
The outcome of this renewed effort by the Cross River State Government could have far-reaching effects on resource allocation and inter-state relations within Nigeria’s oil-producing regions.
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