Cross River delegation didn’t stage walk out, insists RMAFC report presentation to continue

…as Akwa Ibom Surveyor General disrupts proceedings

Former Speaker of Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt Hon John Gaul Lebo, has stated that the Cross River State delegation to the Federal Government Inter-Agency Technical Committee programme in Abuja on the plotting of disputed and newly drilled oil and gas wells between Cross River State and Akwa Ibom State did not stage a walkout during the proceedings, as erroneously aired by ADBN Television on Thursday, January 29, 2026.

Insisting that the delegate rather insisted that the proceedings must go on despite protest by Akwa Ibom State indigenes in Abuja earlier before the commencement of the proceedings, Rt Hon. Lebo said, contrary to the narrative being circulated, the proceedings were initially paused when the Acting Chairman of the Committee, representing the Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Mr Aliyu Almakura Abdulkadir (Federal Commissioner representing Nasarawa State), announced a temporary suspension of the presentation of the Committee’s report.

The Cross River State delegation expressed concern over this development and formally protested the suspension. Following constructive engagement, the Committee agreed to proceed with the presentation as earlier scheduled.

However, during the presentation, the appointed surveyor comprehensively established both the land and maritime boundaries between Cross River State and Akwa Ibom State using newly generated coordinate mapping. This technical exercise clearly reaffirmed the existing boundary demarcations between the two states.

The presentation was subsequently disrupted when the Surveyor-General of Akwa Ibom State, Surv Emem Isang, raised an unsubstantiated claim that Akwa Ibom State does not share a maritime boundary with Cross River State. This assertion prompted strong objections from the Cross River delegation, leading to a protest within the proceedings as the Akwa Ibom State delegation stalled the programme.

In view of the heightened disagreement, the sitting was adjourned and formally suspended to a later date, pending the presence of the substantive Chairman of the Commission, Dr Mohammed Bello Shehu, who is expected to oversee the final presentation of the report to the affected states.

Speaking during the programme, the former Speaker reaffirmed that there is indeed a clear and established maritime boundary between Cross River State and Akwa Ibom State. He further stated that the Committee’s findings had confirmed this position, which he had earlier outlined in his petition to Mr President.

“For the avoidance of doubt, at no point did the Cross River State delegation stage a walkout from the meeting. The delegation remained fully engaged throughout the proceedings and participated actively in all deliberations until the official suspension of the sitting,” Lebo insisted.

The Cross River State delegation was led by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon. Emmanuel Ironbar, and included the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon. Ededem Ani, alongside other senior government officials and stakeholders.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon. Emmanuel Ironbar, while addressing Cross River’s delegation, said the Government of Cross River State remains committed to due process, constructive dialogue, and peaceful resolution of all boundary-related matters in line with constitutional provisions and established legal frameworks.

“We therefore urge members of the public and media organisations to rely on verified information and exercise professionalism in their reportage, in the interest of peace, unity, and responsible journalism,” he added.