Presidency Releases Details Of Refunds To Niger Delta: Akwa Ibom, Delta Get Largest Share

The Presidency provided more information about oil derivation refunds paid to the states on Friday in response to mounting dissatisfaction in Niger Delta states over allegations that some government employees had mishandled the region’s oil derivation refunds.

According to the information provided by the Presidency, Akwa Ibom and Delta States received the most federal government returns.

The presidential spokeswoman, Garba Shehu, revealed this in a statement released on Friday and provided to the Daily Post.

Shehu disclosed that between 2021 and 2022, the Federation Account paid the nine oil-producing states a total of N625.43 billion in 13 percent oil derivation, subsidy, and SURE-P reimbursements.

According to him, the return period was from 1999 until 2021.

Recall that Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State had showered praise on President Muhammadu Buhari for releasing the 13 per cent oil derivation to the Niger delta States.

Wike further said he spent the funds on multi-billion projects in his State, challenging his colleagues to explain how they used theirs.

Following the revelations by Wike, many Nigerians raised questions about how governors from the oil-producing states utilised the funds in their respective states.

Part of the statement read: “According to the figures, under the 13 per cent derivation fund on withdrawal from ECA without deducting derivation from 2004 to 2019, Abia State received N4.8 billion with an outstanding sum of N2.8 billion, Akwa-Ibom received N128 billion with an outstanding sum of N77 billion, Bayelsa with N92.2bn, leaving an outstanding of N55 billion.

“Cross River got a refund N1.3 billion with a balance N792 million, Delta State received N110 billion, leaving a balance of N66.2 billion, Edo State received N11.3billion, with a balance of N6.8billion, Imo State, N5.5 billion, with an outstanding sum of N3.3 billion, Ondo State, N19.4 billion with an outstanding sum of N11.7bn while Rivers State was paid 103.6 billion, with an outstanding balance of N62.3 billion.”

The statement indicated that States were further paid in eight instalments between the months of October and January 2022.

“Under this category, Abia State received N1.1 billion, Akwa-Ibom, N15 billion, Bayelsa, N11.6 billion, Cross River, N432 million, Delta State, N14.8 billion, Edo State, N2.2 billion, Imo State, N2.9, billion, Ondo State, N3.7 billion, and Rivers State, N12.8 billion,” it said.