The Akwa Ibom State Government has affirmed that oil wells currently under its jurisdiction remain part of the state’s territory, addressing recent reports linking some of its offshore resources to Cross River State.
The government stated that no constitutional authority has approved any transfer of these oil assets, which play a significant role in the state’s economy and oil derivation revenues.
Speaking to journalists in Uyo on Monday, the government clarified that the reports originated from a draft report submitted by a Federal Government Inter-Agency Committee to the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).
The commission had received the draft on February 13, 2026, but no final decision, approval, or recommendation regarding the oil wells has been issued.
“It is neither a reallocation nor an approved recommendation. The claims in circulation are speculative and do not reflect any final position,” the government said, urging residents to remain informed about the official process.
The state also referenced established judicial precedents in support of its position. It noted that disputes over the northern and southern boundaries between Akwa Ibom and Cross River States have been conclusively resolved by the Supreme Court of Nigeria, which upheld Akwa Ibom’s entitlement to the oil wells.
In Suit No. 124/1999, Cross River State challenged Akwa Ibom’s northern non-estuarine boundaries, covering 24 villages in Oku, Itu, and Ayadehe, as well as the southern estuarine areas where the oil wells are located.
On June 24, 2005, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Cross River only on parts of the northern boundary dispute, while dismissing its claims over the southern estuarine territories.
The government also referenced the October 10, 2002 International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling on the land and maritime boundary between Nigeria and Cameroon.
According to the state, the ICJ judgment altered Cross River’s coastal status, effectively eliminating its estuarine sector and confirming that it no longer possesses a seaward boundary.
5This was reaffirmed by the July 10, 2012 Supreme Court ruling, which reiterated that Cross River is no longer a littoral state entitled to offshore derivation, while upholding Akwa Ibom’s entitlement to the oil wells.
Invoking Section 235 of the 1999 Constitution, the government emphasized that Supreme Court decisions are final and binding on all authorities and persons across the federation.
“There is no higher court, no supervisory committee, and no administrative process that can sit in appeal over a subsisting judgment of the Supreme Court,” the statement said.
The state further assured residents that all oil wells remain within Akwa Ibom’s recognized maritime and littoral boundaries, based on established hydrographic coordinates and legally enforceable adjudications.
Citizens were encouraged to remain calm and united, with the assurance that the government will continue to defend its economic interests through lawful and constitutional means.
