By Joy Odor
The Nigerian Senate has established a nine-member Ad-hoc Committee to investigate the alleged illegal annexation of Nigerian territory by Cameroonian authorities.
This decision follows a motion sponsored by Senator Aniekan Bassey, representing Akwa Ibom North-East, who highlighted the loss of 16 ancestral communities and 2,560 oil wells in Akwa Ibom State due to the 2002 International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling.
The Key Issues Raised by Senator Bassey are The annexation violates multiple international agreements, The ICJ judgment should be reviewed and The Nigerian government should escalate the matter to the United Nations Convention.
The disputed territory includes the Nigerian Mangroves Island, situated at Efiat in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
Senator Bassey emphasized that this island was not part of the territories ceded to Cameroon by the 1913 Anglo-German treaties and the ICJ’s decision in 2002.
Speaking on the Economic Significance of the Disputed Territory, the Lawmaker affirmed that The island hosts significant fishing routes and It has approximately 2,500 oil wells and generates substantial gas revenues.
“I rise with utmost sense of responsibility to move the attention of this Senate to the illegal annexations of Nigerian Mangroves Island situated at Efiat in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State by the Republic of Cameron.
“This is noting that the island in focus were not part of the territories ceded to the Government of Cameron by the 1913 Anglo – German treaties and the International Court of Justice’s decision of October, 2002.
“As such, the encroachment into these territories is not only illegal but has led to huge economic loss of more than 2,500 oil wells and gas revenues which ought to accrue to Nigeria.
“Also very pathetically, it is a monumental national embarrassment that foreign Laws are imposed by the Cameroun Gendarmes on Nigerians living in the 16 Nigerian ancestral homes and villages in the said mangrove island.
“The Senate: Observes that the Mangrove Island and waters situated at the geographical location called Effiat in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State marking the terminal end of the Gulf of Guinea down seaward to the Atlantic Ocean coast, is currently under the administrative control of the Republic of Cameron illegally and contrary to the 1913 Anglo-German Treaties, International Court of Justice’s judgment of October, 2002 and Section 12 (1) (2) (3) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (As Amended).
“Aware that this island and waters are economically important to the region, as it hosts copious fishing routes and approximately over 2,500 oil wells as well as gas revenues that should accrue to the Nigerian Government but which are lost to the Republic of Cameron as a result of the illegal annexation of the island by the Republic of Cameroun.
“Concerned that Nigerians living in the said Mangroves Island comprising about 16 villages and ancestral home in an area recognized and provided for in the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (As Amended) and which was not ceded to Cameron Republic by the 1913 treaties and the
International Court of Justice judgement, being uncomfortable with Cameron Soldiers in their communities even when no Cameroonian lives in that community took to an open protests.
“Worried that the continued expansionist foreign policy of the Republic of Cameron after independence of our country by illegal annexation and vigorous pursuit for the 16 villages of the Nigerian Mangrove Island, waters and oil constitutes a breach of international laws, an affront on Nigeria’s territorial integrity and unlawful exploitation of Nigeria’s economic resources as well as national embarrassment.
Recalls that Resolution 16 (1) of the First Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Governments of the Organization of African Unity held in Cairo from 17th to 21st July 1964, all African Nations including the Republic of Cameron pledged to respect the borders of other African States after the attainment of National Independence.
“Cognizant that the Anglo German treaties of 11′ March, 1913 lay the Mangrove Island firmly within Nigerian Territory as they lay west of the Rio Del Ray River and serves as the official border line between Nigeria and the Republic of Cameron as reaffirmed by the International Court of Justice judgement on the 10′ day of October, 2002.
“Observes that although the International Court of Justice had ordered both Nigeria and Cameron to withdraw sovereignty over areas they were not entitled to under the 1913 Anglo German treaties which resulted in Nigeria hurriedly ceding over 32 villages from Adamawa to the Lake Chad areas to the Republic of Cameroun, Cameron Republic has continued to hold up Nigerian territories to ransom, thus, adversely affecting the people and the economy of the entire nation.
Senators from Cross River, Adamawa, and Ogun states also expressed concerns about similar territorial disputes affecting their respective states.
The Senate criticized the implementation of ICJ’s ruling, describing it as one-sided, and advocated for a comprehensive review.
The Ad-hoc Committee, chaired by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, will investigate the issues and report back to the Senate.
The Senate urged President Bola Tinubu to take immediate action to safeguard Nigeria’s territorial waters and secure the disputed oil wells.
