C’River no longer receives derivation fund — Gov. aide

Cross River State is no longer receiving the 13 per cent derivation fund, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Governor Ben Ayade, Mr. Christian Ita, has said.

He spoke against the backdrop of media reports listing Cross River as an oil-producing state as well as one of the recipients of the 13 per cent derivation fund from the Federal Government.

A statement from Presidency on Friday also listed Cross River among the states receiving derivation refund.

Ita said Cross River State stopped receiving the fund in 2012 after the Supreme Court judgment that led to the loss of 76 oil wells to Akwa Ibom.

Putting the matter straight, Ita said, “Your report today erroneously listed Cross River State among oil bearing states that get humongous revenue through the 13 per cent derivation fund.

“Cross River was deleted from the committee of oil-bearing states since the unfortunate 2012 Supreme Court ruling that ceded the 76 oil wells belonging to the state to Akwa Ibom State as a consequence of the loss of Bakassi Peninsula.”

He further stated, “That judgement has since thrown Cross River into want and as such listing the state along with the super rich oil producing states is not in good taste.

“If anything, it has expanded the wound of injustice inflicted on Cross River by the Nigeria.”