LAGOS, AUGUST 17, 2016 – Gov.Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Wednesday urged other state governments to begin the exploration of mineral deposits in their domains to boost their revenue.Ambode made the call when the Indices and Disbursement Committee of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) paid him a courtesy visit in Ikeja.
He said that the exploration of such mineral deposits would grant financial independence to the states and guarantee equal growth in all parts of the country.
The governor said that the commencement of crude oil production in Lagos State would enhance the economy of the state and the nation in general.
Ambode said that it was significant for Nigeria’s economy that the state had become the first outside the Niger Delta basin to produce oil.
The committee is on a working visit to the state for the verification of oil and gas production in Aje for the purpose of disbursement of the 13 per cent derivation fund to the state.
“I am happy that RMAFC has taken this step.
“I also want the committee to encourage other states to activate whatever mineral deposits they have in conjunction with the Federal Government.
“With this, we can start to diversify revenue and then create a balanced growth and development for the whole country,” he said.
He commended the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the Boundary Commission for their contributions to the discovery and production of crude oil in the state.
Earlier, the Committee Chairman, Alhaji Aliyu Mohammed, said RMAFC, DPR, Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation and the National Boundary Commission had jointly determined the location of Aje oil wells.
Mohammed said that the technical committee recommended that the Aje oil wells fell within Lagos State.
He said as a result, the commission and members of the inter-agency committee embarked on the visit to the oil wells to conclude the process.
He said that the outcome of the visit would promote national unity as well as the socio-economic development of the state and Nigeria.
“It is also important to state that the commencement of oil production in Aje oil field by Yinka Folawiyo Petroleum Company Limited, signaled the beginning of oil production outside the Niger Delta basin,” Mohammed said.
