Nwoye begins process to include Anambra into NDDC oil producing state

The bill to amend the Act of the Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to enable the inclusion of Anambra State  among the list of oil producing states scaled first reading at the Senate.

The proposed enactment sponsored by the senator representing  Anambra North senatorial district in the National Assembly,  Dr Tony Nwoye, is aimed at amending Section 2(1)(b) of the NDDC Establishment ACT CAP N 86 LFN 2004, which will  enable the commission to enlist the state among  the  list of oil producing states.

Mr  Paschal Candle, the media aide to Nwoye, who disclosed this in a statement in Awka, on Tuesday, said two years ago, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) granted its approval for Anambra  State to join the list of oil producing states.

“According to RMAFC, it attributed 11 oil wells to the state and declared that henceforth,  Anambra will be eligible to benefit from the 13 percent derivation fund, which minerals producing states in Nigeria are statutorily entitled to.

“However, despite this,  the NDDC  is  yet to accord the state such status and Anambra  is yet to start benefiting from those privileges attributed to NDDC states.

“At the last plenary of the Senate presided by  the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, Nwoye’s Bill was introduced by the Senate Leader, Senator  Opeyemi Bamidele and passed first reading after its short title was read by the   Clerk  of the Senate,  Chinedu Akubueze

“Currently,  the 2000 Act establishing the NDDC recognises nine states Ondo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Imo, Abia, Cross River and Akwa Ibom as oil producing”.

“Recently, it was reported that the nation’s mainstay has been found in other parts of the country including Anambra which is said to be already producing 0.9 percent”, he said.

READ ALSO FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE 

• Labour suspends strike after NSA intervention

• Nigeria’s inflation rate hits 27.33%

• Appeal court upholds Sanwo-Olu’s election

• Ex-JAMB Registrar Prof Ojerinde’s money laundering trial stalled again

• Visa Cancellation: Passengers didn’t fulfil entry requirements — Saudi embassy

• Old naira notes remain legal tender indefinitely – CBN

• Tinubu intervenes in Fubara, Wike rift

• PRESSTIME PODCAST: Digital Media, social media, where do we draw the line