Ukorebi Esien | July 28, 2025
CALABAR – Dr. Bong Duke, the Chief Executive Officer of the Cross River State Planning Commission, has voiced serious concerns over the long-standing oil well allocation dispute between Cross River and Akwa Ibom states, warning that the injustice threatens the core of sustainable planning and development in Cross River.
Speaking in reaction to the controversy surrounding the 76 oil wells originally located in the Bakassi region, Dr. Duke stated that the dispute is not merely a territorial issue, but one that directly undermines the economy of the state and hampers the implementation of development policies.
"Cross River State has suffered unjustly for over a decade," Dr. Duke said. "This injustice now confirmed by the findings of a federal inter-agency committee which located 67 oil wells within our maritime boundary has denied the state critical revenues needed to fund infrastructure, education, healthcare, and job creation."
According to Dr. Duke, the wrongful allocation of the oil wells to Akwa Ibom has had a ripple effect on Cross River's ability to meet its development benchmarks and execute key projects under the People-First Agenda of Governor Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu.
"Planning for a state without access to its rightful resources is like drawing water from an empty well. Our budget projections, industrial policy targets, and rural development initiatives are all affected," he said.
The Planning Commission CEO emphasized that the dispute, if unresolved, will continue to distort medium- and long-term development planning in the state. He stressed that the issue should not be politicized but treated as a development and governance concern with far-reaching implications.
Dr. Duke praised the proactive steps taken by Governor Otu in formally engaging the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, which led to the constitution of an inter-agency verification committee in March 2024. The committee, after plotting the maritime boundary using the 11th Edition of the National Administrative Map and geolocating the oil wells, found 67 of them to be within Cross River territory.
"This is not about asking for favors; it is about demanding what is rightfully ours," Dr. Duke added. "Justice is the foundation for meaningful growth. Without it, we will only be managing poverty, not solving it."
He also called on federal authorities to ensure the final resolution reflects the truth, equity, and legal boundaries as established by available maps and data. According to him, the ongoing silence and resistance from Akwa Ibom State contradict the directive of the Presidency for both states to hold consultations and report back.
"The development of Cross River State depends largely on fiscal justice, we remain committed to peace, but we will not be silent in the face of systemic economic disempowerment." Dr. Duke concluded.
The dispute, which gained renewed attention following a July 24 press release by Akwa Ibom State's Attorney General, Uko Udom, SAN, has sparked national debate on resource ownership, boundary demarcation, and inter-state equity. The Cross River State Government had earlier issued an official response signed by the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Erasmus Ekpang, reiterating its position and calling for corrective action.
As both states await the outcome of the Presidential directive, stakeholders continue to urge for transparency and adherence to administrative facts to ensure lasting peace and development.
0 comments: