GOVERNOR IFEANYI UGWUANYI CALLS FOR DESIGNATION OF ENUGU AS OIL-BEARING STATE

Proposes 50-50 revenue formula among Enugy/ Anambra/Kogi states.

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has requested the leadership of the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to expedite action on the process of formally designating Enugu as an oil-bearing state in the country.

Gov. Ugwuanyi made the request when he received Commissioners and top management team of RMAFC led by the Chairman, Indices and Disbursement Committee, Chris A. Akomas, who paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Enugu, on Monday.

The delegation from RMAFC is in Enugu for an interactive session with members of the Enugu State Executive Council (EXCO), 17 Local Government Chairmen and other stakeholders in line with the Commission's ongoing nationwide sensitization tour of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on the review of the existing Revenue Allocation Formula in the spirit of equity, justice and fairness.

Speaking, Gov. Ugwuanyi represented by his Deputy, Hon Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, stated that the request for designation of Enugu as an oil bearing state became imperative because of the volume of crude oth being harvested from its territory.

The governor drew the attention of RMAFC to the fact that "Enugu is about the only state in Nigeria which produces crude oil in commercial quantities without being formally accorded the status of an oil-bearing state".

He pointed out that "years of oil exploration in the Enugu/Anambra/Kogi states joint border corridor have resulted in the successful exploitation of crude oil in the area which includes a large part of Enugu State's territory," stressing: "On a desirable allocation formula for the country, Enugu State government, after considering all the relevant factors and parameters, is proposing 50-50 to the three states."

Governor Ugwuanyi maintained that Enugu has continued to be the political capital and socio-cultural melting pot of the old Eastern Region of Nigeria "now carved into nine states", stating that the South East geo-political zone is disadvantaged in terms of infrastructure.