Nigeria's oil-producing states have received an unexpected gift that could prove either transformative or catastrophic. Between January and May 2025, these nine states collected N620.23bn ($418m) in derivation payments—more than double the N308.19bn received during the same period last year. The windfall, driven by higher oil prices and improved remittances from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, represents a 101 per cent increase that should be cause for celebration. Instead, it demands urgent introspection.