Presidential-Intervention-Imminent-as -Conflicting-Maps-Threaten-Nigeria’s-Oil-Assets-and-Territorial-Integrity

​Presidential Intervention Imminent as Conflicting Maps Threaten Nigeria’s Oil Assets and Territorial Integrity 

Our Correspondent, C. Scott Yooki/ Abuja

This report highlights a high-stakes cartographic and geopolitical dispute that transcends simple revenue sharing. At its core, the issue involves conflicting data from the National Boundary Commission (NBC) and the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation (OSGoF), which could inadvertently weaken Nigeria’s maritime claims against international neighbors while shifting internal oil wealth. ​Here is a breakdown of the critical points and the potential fallout: ​The Core Conflict: Maps vs. Reality ​The dispute centers on which map should be used to plot oil and gas coordinates. The "2008 Oil Dichotomy Study Model Map" currently in use is being challenged as "provisional" and scientifically inaccurate. ​The NBC’s "Flip-Flop": The NBC reportedly told the Supreme Court in 2012 that the Cross River Estuary was ceded to Cameroon. However, their own maps from 2004–2008 continued to allocate oil wells within that same estuary to Akwa Ibom. ​The 2025 Reversal: Recently, the NBC Chairman unveiled new maps showing Cross River as a coastal state, contradicting the 2008 "landlocked" narrative used for revenue allocation. ​The Recommended Standard: Technical experts are pushing for the Nigerian Administrative Map, 10th Edition, describing it as the nation's most accurate scientific cartographic base. ​What is at Stake? ​The implications of this "mapping error" are both financial and sovereign: ​1. Territorial Integrity ​Reliance on the 2008 map could result in the loss of 780 hectares of territorial waters. If Nigeria’s internal maps suggest a territory belongs to "no one" or has been ceded, it weakens the country's position in maritime negotiations with Cameroon. ​2. Oil Asset Security ​Over 49 oil wells in OML 114 are at risk. If these wells are incorrectly plotted, they could fall into a "gray zone" or be claimed by Cameroon due to the lack of a clearly demarcated international maritime boundary. ​3. Revenue (Derivation) ​The attribution of these wells determines which state (Cross River or Akwa Ibom) receives the 13% Derivation Fund. Currently, Cross River is fighting to be recognized as a maritime state to reclaim its share of oil revenue. ​Current Status: Presidential Intervention ​Because the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) cannot resolve a dispute of this magnitude—involving national security and international borders—the matter has been escalated to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Action Item	Responsibility
Review of Findings	Presidential Committee (Newly Constituted)
Final Approval	RMAFC Board of Commissioners (Pending Presidential Directive)
Technical Verification	Office of the Surveyor-General (OSGoF)

​Bottom Line: This isn't just a spat between two states over money; it is a technical crisis that could see Nigeria lose physical territory and vital energy assets if the "provisional" 2008 maps aren't corrected to reflect current scientific data.