*Says Move Will Require Boundary Adjustment
*As Sen. Nwoye Declines Demands To Withdraw Contentious Bill
There was mild drama on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday as lawmakers rejected a move to include Anambra State in the Niger Delta Development Commission.
The drama started after the lawmaker Representing Anambra South (LP), Tony Nwoye, presented an amendment to the Niger Delta Development Commission Establishment Act.
The amendment sought to include Anambra State into the list of oil producing States in the Niger Delta region.
Nwoye told his colleagues that the Revenue mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission had at its 139th Plenary Session in 2021 approved the attribution of the 14 oil wells to Anambra State namely Nzam 1 oil well, Anambra 1,2,3 oil wells (Straddled), Ogbu-1 oil well, Alo-1 oil well (straddled). Amesi 1, 2, 3,4 oil wells, Enyie 1, 2, 3, 4 oil wells.
He added that the State State has also officially started receiving its share of 13% mineral derivation revenue from the Federation revenue to oil – producing communities since July 2022.
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Senator Nwoye therefore asked the Red Chamber to formally accord Anambra the status of an oil producing state.
President of the Senate, Godwill Akpabio, clarified that the NDDC AND NEDC are children of necessity caused by oil spillage in the Niger Delta region, and insurgent destructions in the North East which resulted in IDPs.
He said that though bandits ravage Zamfara and Katsina, both states cannot join the NEDC because of its geographic definition.
He continued that investigation shows states like Lagos receive 13 percent derivation with two oil wells in Badagry producing 9000 barrels of oil.
“Anambra is getting 13 percent and Kogi is also recognized as oil producing and host communality as the Petroleum Industry Act made them part of it and certain percent is given to them.
The geographic location makes the swamp forest of Abia, Ondo and Imo River part of the NEDC.”
On his part, Senator Seriake Dickson suggested a return to the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC) to solve the simmering dichotomy.
Whilst the Upper Chamber asked the Bill Sponsor, Senator Nwoye to withdraw the legislation for further consultation, he urged the Senate to deploy its discretion on the way forward.
It was however subjected to voice votes where it was rejected by plenary.
