Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah of Enugu State has appealed to the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to fast-track the release of 13 percent oil derivation funds due to the state, following its recognition as an oil-producing state in 2022.
The appeal was made during a meeting with the Indices and Disbursement Committee of RMAFC at the Government House in Enugu. Governor Mbah expressed concern that, despite formal recognition by the commission, Enugu State has yet to receive any financial benefits from oil produced within its territory.
Enugu was officially listed as an oil-producing state in December 2022, based on findings from an Inter-agency Technical Committee. The oil fields in question — Anambra River Basin 1, 2, and 3 — fall within Enugu State’s jurisdiction, qualifying it for the 13% derivation revenue allocated to oil-producing states in Nigeria.
“We acknowledge the recognition of Enugu as an oil-producing state based on the Inter-agency Technical Committee’s findings last year. Despite this, the state has not started benefiting from the 13 percent derivation from these oil fields. We call on your office to facilitate the necessary actions to ensure we receive these funds,” Mbah told the RMAFC committee.
The governor noted that the lack of disbursement has delayed key development plans and infrastructure investments tied to the expected oil revenue. He urged the Commission to act swiftly to rectify the situation and ensure Enugu is not shortchanged.
In the meantime, Mbah stated that his administration has intensified efforts to boost Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). According to him, Enugu’s IGR has grown by over 400 percent, a result of implementing technology-based revenue tracking systems and diversifying the state’s income sources.
Governor Mbah said the government is no longer solely dependent on federal allocations and is aggressively pursuing initiatives to attract investment and stimulate economic growth across sectors such as agriculture, technology, and manufacturing.
He also reiterated his administration’s focus on transparency and accountability in public finance management, adding that improved IGR is now funding various infrastructural and social development projects across the state.
