Senate recognises Kogi as oil producing state

On Thursday, the Nigerian Senate declared Kogi State an oil-producing state.

Following a personal explanation from Kogi East Senator Jibrin Isah regarding Kogi State’s oil-producing status, the recognition was granted by Senate Standing Order No. 42.

Senator Tony Nwoye of Anambra North, who claimed in his motion on Wednesday that Kogi is not an oil-producing state, was refuted by Isah, who told the upper legislative chamber that Kogi is an oil-producing state that “has been receiving the constitutional 13% derivation since October 2022.”

The senator informed the Senate that the Kogi East towns of Odeke, Echeno, Ihile, Anocha/Uchuchu, Omabo, Ikah, Iregwu, and Ujeh of the Ibaji Local Government Council were the locations of commercial oil discoveries.

He claimed that the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, or RMFAC, has evaluated and approved the development since 2021.

“The derivative was being paid to Kogi State based on peculiarities of oil producing states as reflected in Section 162(2) which directs the constant reflection of the principle of derivation of not less than 13% in any approved revenue allocation formula,” Isah added.

Following a bill introduced by Senator Tony Nwoye to modify the Niger Delta Development Commission Act to include Anambra as an oil-producing state, the clarification was made.

Nwoye stated, “the neighboring Kogi State was yet to receive 13% derivative,” while introducing the measure.

The senator from Anambra could not back up his assertions during his interrogation by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who oversaw Wednesday’s session.

In Akpabio’s absence, the deputy president of the Senate, Jibrin Barau, led Thursday’s plenary and upheld the assertion that Kogi State is an oil-producing state.

According to a ZINGTIE story on Wednesday, the senators bitterly rejected a bill that would have made Anambra a member of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

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