Records Show Akwa Ibom Received ₦119.82 Billion Despite Governor’s Statement

FAAC Records Challenge Governor’s Assertion

OFFICIAL records from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) indicate that Akwa Ibom State received ₦119.82 billion in statutory 13 per cent oil derivation funds between September and December 2025 — a figure that appears to contradict a recent claim by Governor Umo Eno.

Speaking during a prayer meeting on 1 March at the Government House in Uyo, the governor stated that the state had stopped receiving its oil derivation revenue since September 2025. The remark drew attention given the constitutional significance of the 13 per cent derivation allocation to oil-producing states.

However, a review of FAAC disbursement documents published by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation shows continued monthly payments to Akwa Ibom throughout the period in question.

Breakdown of Monthly Allocations

According to the FAAC records:

• September 2025: Akwa Ibom received ₦36.95 billion as its 13 per cent derivation allocation.

• October 2025: The state received ₦26.23 billion.

• November 2025: Derivation receipts stood at ₦27.42 billion.

• December 2025: The allocation amounted to ₦29.22 billion.

These four monthly tranches total ₦119.82 billion in statutory derivation payments alone.

In addition to the statutory allocations, FAAC documents show that oil-producing states shared several derivation-related refunds during the same period. These included refunds tied to NLNG proceeds, withdrawals from Joint Venture Cash Calls and Deferred Cash Calls, subsidy and priority project adjustments, and allocations related to NNPC Ltd management fees and the Frontier Exploration Fund.

While the exact portion of these refunds attributable specifically to Akwa Ibom was not separately itemised in the reviewed summary, they represent additional inflows beyond the ₦119.82 billion statutory figure.

Transparency Questions

The apparent discrepancy between the governor’s public statement and the FAAC records has prompted questions regarding fiscal reporting and public communication.

Analysts note that derivation funds constitute a major revenue stream for Akwa Ibom, one of Nigeria’s leading oil-producing states. As such, any disruption in payments would likely have significant budgetary implications.

Observers also point out that the Akwa Ibom State Government has yet to publish a detailed 2025 budget performance report outlining actual revenue receipts, including derivation inflows and associated refunds. Such documentation could clarify whether the governor’s statement referred to a technical issue — such as delayed remittances, reconciliation adjustments, or specific refund components — rather than a complete halt of statutory allocations.

Government Yet to Respond

Efforts to obtain clarification from the state government were unsuccessful as of press time. The Commissioner for Finance, Emem Bob, did not respond to calls and text messages seeking comment on whether the governor’s statement reflected a misunderstanding, a specific accounting dispute, or another fiscal concern.

The federal government has not publicly indicated any suspension of derivation payments to oil-producing states, and no similar complaints have been formally raised by other Niger Delta states during the period under review.

As the debate unfolds, financial transparency advocates stress the need for detailed reconciliation between federal allocation records and state-level fiscal disclosures to prevent misinformation and restore public confidence.