The Nigerian Senate officially acknowledged Kogi State as an oil-producing state, following a presentation made by Senator Jibrin Isah of Kogi East under Order 42 of the Senate Standing Orders.
Senator Isah informed the Senate that Kogi State has been receiving the constitutional 13% derivation since October 2022, emphasizing that this status contradicts the assertion made by Senator Tony Nwoye of Anambra North during Wednesday’s session that Kogi is not an oil-producing state.
He reminded the Senate that oil was discovered in commercial quantities in several communities in Kogi East, including Odeke, Echeno, Ihile, Anocha/Uchuchu, Omabo, Ikah, Iregwu, and Ujeh of Ibaji Local Government Council. This fact, he noted, had been confirmed by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMFAC) since 2021.
Isah highlighted that Kogi State has been receiving the derivative payments based on the provisions of Section 162(2), which mandates the constant reflection of the principle of derivation of not less than 13% in any approved revenue allocation formula.
The clarification came in response to a bill presented by Senator Tony Nwoye, which sought to amend the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Act to include Anambra as an oil-producing state. Senator Nwoye had stated during the presentation of the bill that neighboring Kogi State had not received the 13% derivative.
However, upon further inquiry by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Wednesday’s plenary, Senator Nwoye was unable to substantiate his claims.
During Thursday’s plenary, presided over by Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau in the absence of Akpabio, the clarification that Kogi State is indeed an oil-producing state was affirmed and sustained.