AKITA Declares Dividend

CALGARY, ALBERTA, March 3, 2006 –AKITA Drilling Ltd.’s Board of Directors approved the payment of a quarterly dividend to shareholders.

AKITA Drilling Ltd.’s Board of Directors approved an ordinary cash dividend of six cents ($0.06) per share on the Outstanding Class A Non-Voting and Class B Common shares of the Corporation for payment on April 3, 2006 to shareholders of record at the close of business March 20, 2006.

AKITA is an Alberta company engaged in the contract drilling business. AKITA's Class A Non-Voting Shares and Class B Common Shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "AKT.NV.A." and "AKT.B"; respectively.

For further information please contact Murray Roth, Vice President of Finance,
(403)292-7950. Web site: http://www.akita-drilling.com