The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Cross River State has called for a coordinated approach by the state’s lawmakers as the federal government begins a fresh verification of disputed oil and gas wells.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the state chairman of IPAC, Effiom Edet Okon, urged senators and members of the House of Representatives from Cross River to present a common position when engaging with relevant authorities over the state’s oil interests.
The council also appealed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and other public officials to exercise restraint in their comments on the issue, stressing that statements by senior political figures could affect public perception and relations between neighbouring states.
IPAC said the interests of Cross River should be pursued within the framework of constitutional provisions, equity and peaceful dialogue.
The council maintained that the state’s longstanding relationships with people from other parts of the country should be preserved, while efforts to protect its economic interests continue.
The development comes as the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has reconstituted an inter-agency technical committee to verify disputed and newly drilled oil and gas wells from 2017 to date. The commission discarded its earlier draft verification report following claims and counterclaims from affected states over the coordinates and locations of the wells.
The fresh exercise will involve technical experts from RMAFC, the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation, the National Boundary Commission and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission. Physical verification and the use of approved maps are also expected where necessary.
IPAC said it remained committed to dialogue and peaceful advocacy as the federal verification process continues.
