Atiku to AGF: OPL 245 Dispute Still Alive Despite FG Claims

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has insisted that the long-running dispute over the OPL 245 oil block remains unresolved, warning that no amount of official rhetoric can erase lingering legal and stakeholder concerns.

Atiku’s position comes in response to the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, who recently defended the federal government’s claim that the controversial oil block dispute had been settled.

In a statement issued by his media office, Atiku faulted the government’s declaration of a “final resolution,” describing it as misleading and premature given ongoing legal proceedings.

He argued that key stakeholders were excluded from the process and that active cases in court contradict the government’s position.

“No amount of rhetoric can erase the disputes surrounding OPL 245,” Atiku said, maintaining that the matter remains subject to judicial determination.

The former vice-president also questioned the transparency and legality of the agreement, warning that presenting unresolved legal issues as political achievements could undermine public trust and accountability.

However, Fagbemi dismissed Atiku’s claims, describing them as misrepresentations of what he termed a landmark achievement by the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

The AGF argued that the dispute, which has spanned decades and multiple jurisdictions, had been substantially addressed through previous agreements and judicial processes, including the 2011 resolution involving the federal government, Malabu Oil and Gas, and international oil firms.

Fagbemi further accused critics of advancing “self-serving interests,” insisting that the current resolution would unlock economic benefits, including increased oil production and investor confidence.

The OPL 245 oil block, one of Nigeria’s most valuable deepwater assets, has been at the centre of legal and political controversies since it was first awarded in 1998, with disputes involving multiple stakeholders and international litigation.