The House of Representatives has resolved to halt ongoing plans to cede the Danare and Biajua communities in the Boki de Cross River Local Government Area of Nigeria to the Republic of Cameroon.
This followed the adoption of a motion jointly sponsored by members of the Cross River Caucus, who requested the House’s intervention.
Victor Abang (APC-Cross River), speaking on behalf of the Cross River Caucus, recalled that on October 10, 2002, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that the property of the Bakassi Peninsula belonged to Cameroon.
He said this was due to an agreement between the Nigerian and Cameroonian governments during the civil war.
He also said that in July 2012, the Supreme Court ruled that Cross River had no ownership rights to more than 76 oil wells due to the loss of its littoral status.
According to him, it was then that the federal government ceded parts of the peninsula to Cameroon.
“The ICJ ruling decides to redraw the Cameroon-Nigeria international border line from the Lake Chad region (Yola) to the Atlantic Ocean (Bakassi); Subsequently, the United Nations (UN) established two committees to implement the sentence.
He said this led to the establishment of the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission (CNMC) made up of representatives from Nigeria, Cameroon and United Nations officials.
“The field work, which involves the location of the border points and the placement of the border markers as per the ruling, was carried out by a Joint Technical Team (JTT), a sub-corps of the Cameroon-Nigeria mixed commission.
He added that with the representatives of both countries in the JTT, the technical expertise was provided by a foreign contractor and paid for by the CNMC.
“Aware that the field exercise or demarcation carried out by the JTT must be a demarcation adopted in any sector considered valid and conclusive by the CNMC.
“The Anglo-German Cameroon-Nigeria Boundary Agreement of April 12, 1913 indicated 114 boundary pillars from the Lake Chad region (Yola Adamawa State) to Agbokim in the Etung Local Government Area on Cross River.”
Plenary session of the House of Representatives
Said it was planted by the Anglo-Germans and had serial numbers written on the pillars, six of the border pillars lie within the community of Danare in the Boki local government area of Cross River.
According to him, this includes; 109, 110, 111, 112, 113 and 113A, respectively.
“The Anglo-German agreement clearly states that contextual pillar 113A is 9.6 km from pillar 113 towards the forest leading to pillar 114 which falls at Agbokim in the Etung local government area.”
He expressed concern that the JTT has not located Pillar 113A or tracked Pillar 113A, but they plan to adopt a straight-line method, which will lead to the loss of the Danare and Biajua communities.
He said that between 7,000 and 10,000 hectares of land in the Boki area of Cross River were ceded to the Republic of Cameroon.
The legislator argued that under the principles of federalism, the federal government was responsible for protecting the territorial integrity of all federal units.
He said that the federal government had no right to unilaterally assign, sell, mortgage, or assign any part of a federal unit to another country without the consent of the House.
He said the lack of a concerted effort by the JTT to draw a critical pillar that would determine the correct dividing line had generated controversy.
“The team understands that they are missing their homework because a critical pillar has yet to be redrawn, instead of the team going back and doing what is necessary, they proposed a straight-line projection to close the gap between pillars 113 to 114.
“If the federal government does not take urgent action, the country will lose the good people of Danare, Biajua and some parts of the Obanliku area of Cross River to the Republic of Cameroon.
“Cross River stands to lose the good people of the Danare and Biajua communities and their ancestral heritage of land who have protected the Republic of Cameroon all their lives against their wishes and wishes.”
He said the Cameroonian government may have deliberately removed the missing 113A pillar in its plot to seize the land and people of the Danare and Biajua communities.
He said that if a country like Nigeria keeps losing its people, land and natural and mineral resources to its neighboring countries, one day the country may not have a place called Nigeria.
The Chamber, however, resolved to invite the General Director of the National Boundary Commission and Surveyor General of the Federation to explain why pillar 113A has not been found.
The Chamber also resolved to investigate and assess the case of possible land invasion by the Cameroonian government and to consult with legal experts, surveyors and other relevant professionals.
This, according to the Chamber, is to ensure a full understanding of the technical aspect involved in ending the invasion and at the same time establishing an ad hoc committee for the adoption of new legislative measures.
(YAYA)