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 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 has also officially started receiving its share of 13% mineral derivation revenue from the Federation revenue to oil – producing communities since July 2022.
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 added that though bandits ravaged Zamfara and Katsina, both states cannot join the NEDC because of its geographic definition.
He continued that investigation shows states like Lagos receiving 13 percent derivation with two oil wells in Badagry producing 9000 barrels of oil per day
Akpabio further told Nwoye that the geographic location makes the swamp forest of Abia, Ondo and Imo River part of the NDDC
In his submission Senator Seriake Dickson suggested a return to the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC) to allow all producing state be captured under one umbrella
After heated argument between the sponsor of the bill Tony Nwoye and senator isah Jibrin
Upper Chamber asked Senator Nwoye to withdraw the legislation for further consultation
Nwoye declined and urged the Senate to deploy its discretion on the way forward.
It was however subjected to voice votes where it was rejected.
Editor: Ena Agbanoma
