The northern socio-cultural and political group on Monday flayed the FG's alleged snail's speed at giving the go-ahead for the exploration of oil deposits in Benue, Kogi and Sokoto states.
The forum on Monday in Kaduna insisted that it had not shifted its position on the issue which it first made public on Friday.
National Publicity Secretary of the organisation, Mr. Anthony Sani, told our correspondent that the FG could not claim ignorance of oil deposits in the region.
Sani said since there were large deposit of oil in Kogi State, the state should enjoy what other oil producing states are enjoying.
Citing Mexico, the forum insisted that oil on littoral states belongs to all Nigerians and not only to the oil producing states.
The ACF chief said, "This is not a new thing. There has been stories that the Benue trough is in the same geological belt with Chad and Sudan where oil has been found. It is very mischievous for anybody to regard a mere reminder for a need to step up action as a ploy to promote an agenda.
"ACF favours derivation based on rewards for efforts and compensation for degradation of environment. But what is disagreable is that offshore exploration is neither a result of efforts nor does it degrade any environment of any community.
"What is more, international law of the sea does not recognise littoral states but nations, and that is why the Nigerian Navy and Air Force are the ones which keep watch over the ocean.
"So what people have been saying is that proceeds from offshore exploration should not feature in the calculation for derivation."
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