Eno Dismisses Cross River Claims; “76 Oil Wells Belong to Akwa Ibom”
UYO — Governor Umo Eno has categorically dismissed renewed efforts by Cross River State to reclaim 76 offshore oil wells, describing the move as “political propaganda” devoid of legal merit. Speaking at the Victor Attah International Airport on Sunday, February 15, 2026, the Governor asserted that two existing Supreme Court judgments provide an irrevocable seal on the state’s ownership of the assets. The dispute, which has simmered since the 2008 handover of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon, recently resurfaced as Cross River officials presented “new geological data” to federal agencies. Consequently, Eno urged residents to remain calm, maintaining that judicial facts remain superior to emotional narratives.
The crux of the legal impasse lies in the 2012 Supreme Court ruling, which stripped Cross River of its littoral status following the loss of Bakassi. The apex court held that without a direct coastline contiguous to the open sea, Cross River could not claim offshore derivation benefits. Furthermore, Governor Eno clarified that Akwa Ibom shares its maritime boundaries with the Republic of Cameroon, rather than its sister state to the east. This geographical reality, affirmed twice by the highest court in the land, serves as the primary obstacle to any administrative reallocation of the wells.
The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has recently initiated a comprehensive “coordinate plotting” exercise to resolve oil well disputes across the Niger Delta. Cross River proponents argue that the 2012 judgment merely struck out their appeal without explicitly transferring ownership to Akwa Ibom. They contend that modern hydrographic mapping places at least 67 of the 76 disputed wells within their estuarine territory. In a related development, an Inter-Agency Technical Committee concluded field verifications in January 2026, a move Akwa Ibom indigenes have protested as an attempt to bypass judicial finality.
Furthermore, Governor Eno expressed absolute confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to the rule of law regarding the sensitive matter. He emphasized that federal agencies like the National Boundary Commission (NBC) must operate within the framework of settled law rather than “technical loopholes.” The Governor warned that reopening a settled case could undermine the sanctity of judicial decisions and spark avoidable friction in the region. Meanwhile, the RMAFC maintains its role as a neutral arbiter, insisting that its ongoing mapping exercise aims to ensure equitable derivation payments based on verified scientific data.
Ultimately, the battle for the 76 oil wells remains a high-stakes fiscal conflict with deep historical roots. Akwa Ibom’s firm stance suggests that it will not entertain any “political solution” that compromises its hard-won judicial victories. As the federal mapping committee prepares its final report, the nation watches to see if science can navigate a path through this complex legal maze.