Akwa Ibom warns Cross River against renewed claims over 76 oil wells
The Akwa Ibom State Government has reaffirmed its ownership of 76 offshore oil wells, warning the Cross River State Government against renewed misinformation, incitement, and public misrepresentation of legally settled matters.
In a statement signed by Uko Udom, SAN, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Akwa Ibom State, the government described recent petitions and public statements by officials of the Cross River State Government as misleading and capable of inciting unrest among the people.
Clarifying the facts, the statement noted that contrary to circulating narratives, Akwa Ibom did not initiate any legal action over the oil wells. Rather, it was the Cross River State Government that filed and lost two suits against Akwa Ibom at the Supreme Court.
The first case, Suit No. 124/1999, involved disputes over both northern non-estuarine boundaries and the southern estuarine area where the oil wells are located. While the court ruled in favour of Cross River on the northern boundary involving 24 villages in Itu LGA, it dismissed their claim to the southern estuarine territory, citing the 2002 International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling that ceded Bakassi to Cameroon and stripped Cross River of its littoral status.
In the second suit, SC.27/2010, Cross River again sought judicial clarification on ownership and revenue entitlements over the oil wells. However, in a July 2012 judgment, the Supreme Court reaffirmed that only littoral states can claim offshore oil assets and upheld Akwa Ibom’s ownership of the wells. The court ruled that Cross River, having no maritime boundary, had no claim to offshore oil wells.
The statement emphasized that Akwa Ibom had previously offered a ₦250 million monthly ex gratia payment from its derivation revenue to Cross River as a gesture of goodwill—an offer rejected by Cross River in a letter dated March 27, 2006. Despite further efforts to avoid litigation, including elder statesman intervention, Cross River proceeded with legal action.
The government expressed concern over what it described as “incendiary and false claims” by Cross River officials, noting that such actions undermine ongoing efforts at peaceful resolution. It stressed that any political solution must go beyond the oil wells and address territorial issues, including Akwa Ibom communities allegedly added to Cross River.
While reiterating its openness to dialogue, the Akwa Ibom Government cautioned that no political process should deny it the lawful entitlements affirmed by the courts. It also urged the Federal Government to explore fiscal and policy options—such as ecological funds and South-South Development Commission interventions—to support Cross River without infringing on Akwa Ibom’s rights.
