NIGERIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTEE CONSIDERS APPEAL OVER NIGERIA-CAMEROON BOUNDARY DISPUTE:
NIGERIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTEE CONSIDERS APPEAL OVER NIGERIA-CAMEROON BOUNDARY DISPUTE:
Mohammed Jinadu.
The Nigeria House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on the International Boundary Dispute between Nigeria and Cameroon on Thursday announced that it is contemplating filing a new application to appeal the International Court of Justice (ICJ) judgement that ceded Bakassi to Cameroon.
Established by the House to investigate the encroachment into a part of Cross River State’s territory by Cameroon, the Committee raised concerns over the potential loss of the Danare and Biajua communities of approximately 10,000 hectares of land in the Boki Area of Cross River State to Cameroon.
This concern rose from a motion presented by Hon. Victor Abang, citing failure to locate pillar 113A by the technical committee of the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission, as reason for the loss.
Possibility of loosing this second Cross River State’s territory is rooted in the same 2002 judgement which ceded Bakassi to Cameroon. At a meeting with relevant Stakeholders on the matter, Hon. Beni Lar, Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, expressed deep concern about a potential loss of a significant landmass and Nigerian citizens residing within it to Cameroon.
The meeting was attended by the Director General of National Boundary Commission (NBC), Adamu Adaji, representatives of the affected Boki communities, representatives of Security Agencies amongst others
The DG, of the NBC, Adamu Adaji, called for compliance with the provisions of the ICJ judgement. However, committee members expressed frustration over what they perceived as lack of interest by NBC in protecting Nigeria’s interest on the matter.
In light of this urgent situation, Hon. Cletus Obun, a Community Leader from Boki, urged for swift intervention to prevent the loss of lands and displacements of the affected people.
The Committee continues it’s investigation, with focus towards protecting the territorial integrity of Nigeria and the wellbeing of its Citizens residing in the contested areas.
