Abia CNPP Demands Royalties On New Oil Wells

The opposition parties in Abia State, have risen in support of the state government’s clamour to have the federal government pay the arrears of royalties accurate  from the 64 oil wells recovered for the state and then start reflecting its new status in the monthly revenue allocation.

The opposition parties under the aegis of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) Abia State Chapter after rising from a meeting in Umuahia said that the federal authorities should no longer deny Abia its right to get the appropriate revenue accruing from its resources.

The CNPP Abia State called the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the National Executive Council to as a matter of urgency instruct the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Committee (RMFAC) to pay back the arrears of revenue accruing from the 64 oil wells recovered from Rivers State to Abia State without further delay and also increase the monthly allocation of Abia to reflect the new status as an oil producer,” the opposition parties said.

In a communique signed by the state chairman of 10 political parties that attended the meeting, the CNPP warned against politicising Abia’s oil revenue inorder to frustrate the state government under the control of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) to score political gains for the PDP ahead of the 2011 general elections.

“It is our considered view that revenue and proceeds accruable for Abia State are for Abians and not for PPA government of Abia State or for the Governor of Abia State. The welfare of Abia State is paramount and should be not be slaughtered in the alter of polities.”