Umuahia, Abia State — The Federal Commissioner representing Abia State at the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RAMFAC), Mrs. Nkechi Oti, has raised serious concerns over the alleged ceding of Abia’s oil wells to neighbouring states, a development she says is negatively impacting the state’s revenue allocation from the Federation Account.
According to The Bureau Newspaper, Mrs. Oti, while presenting a report of her familiarisation tour during a courtesy visit to Governor Alex Otti, revealed that the disputed oil wells—if reclaimed—could significantly boost Abia’s federally allocated revenue.
“There’s an urgent need for intervention by the Governor to reclaim Abia’s rightful oil assets,” she said.
Mrs. Oti noted that her visit was aimed at understanding the dynamics and challenges of revenue allocation to Abia State, and reaffirmed her commitment to securing enhanced revenue inflow for the state.
The RAMFAC Commissioner also called for:
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Improved monitoring of the state’s solid mineral resources
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Better inter-ministerial coordination
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Enhanced training for local government staff to boost Internally Generated Revenue (IGR)
She further warned that lapses in statutory remittances—such as stamp duties and tax collections—could continue to deprive Abia of its equitable share from the Federation Account, especially in the oil-producing areas.
She listed electricity deficits, insecurity, and poor infrastructure as some of the challenges impeding the state’s oil-producing regions from reaching their full potential.
Mrs. Oti, who was accompanied by an eight-member team from key federal agencies, commended the Otti-led administration for ongoing projects and the digitisation of revenue processes, describing them as transformative steps toward financial transparency.
In his response, Governor Alex Otti expressed gratitude for the RAMFAC team’s efforts and assured them that his administration will carefully study the report and act on its recommendations.
He disclosed that Abia State has established the Abia Petroleum Trading and Allied Limited (APTA), a company tasked with the management and recovery of oil wells in the state. The governor emphasised that Abia would engage with the Federal Government to protect its oil assets and ensure equity in resource distribution.
“Our administration is focused on prudent financial management, increased federal revenue, and long-term debt reduction,” Governor Otti stated.
He also appealed to the RAMFAC representative to assist Abia in securing increased federal allocations, in line with its resource contributions and developmental needs.
The fact-finding mission by RAMFAC uncovered key bottlenecks hindering optimal revenue generation for the state, setting the stage for policy reforms and strategic collaboration between the state and federal authorities.
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