ANAMBRA STATE GETS ABOUT 2 BILLION NAIRA FROM 13% OIL DERIVATION WITHIN FIVE MONTHS

The Anambra State Government says it has received close to Two Billion Naira as thirteen percent oil derivation proceeds from the Federal Government.

The Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Mr. Anthony Ifeanya, made the revelation while interacting with the Anambra State House of Assembly Committee on Finance and Appropriation.

The Commissioner, who did not disclose the exact figure, noted that since July 2022 when the state started receiving the thirteen percent derivation till November, 2022, it had received between one-point-five billion to two Billion naira from the Federal Government.

He, however, expressed regret that the major activity the Ministry had projected for 2023 was yanked off from the draft estimate bill submitted and appealed to the lawmakers to look into the lean budgetary provisions made for the ministry.

Mr. Ifeanya also told the committee that a particular oil firm had been tapping the oil in two communities in Ogbaru Local Government Area without any Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) with the host communities until recently when the present administration took the necessary steps that compelled them to do so in the interest of peace.

The Chairman House committee on Finance and Appropriation, Mr. Obinna Emeneka, encouraged the Commissioner to do more while commending him for the ideas they intended to achieve by 2023.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU