Bassey
Glory Okon
Senator Aniekan Bassey representing Akwa Ibom North-East has raised concern over the illegalannexations of Nigerian Mangroves Island situated at Efiat in Mbo Local Government Area of the State by the Republic of Cameroon.
The motion presented before the Senate, sponsored by him was brought under order 41 and 51 of the Senate standing orders 2023 as amended. He revealed that the island in focus were not part of the territories ceded to the Government of Cameroon 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 Cameroon Gendarmes on Nigerians living in the 16 Nigerian ancestral homes and villages in the said mangrove island. “Hence, I am compelled to move this motion in the following terms:
“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 Cameroon 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 Cameroon 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 Cameroon Republic by the 1913 treaties and the International Court of Justice judgement, being uncomfortable with Cameroon Soldiers in their communities even when no Cameroonian lives in that community took to an open protests.
“Further aware that 2 months after the protest of March 19, 2016, Cameroon President, Mr. Paul Biya during his visit to Nigeria on the 5” May 2016, enquired from the Former President Muhammadu Buhari about Nigeria”S position on Bakassi Peninsula and the Nigerian-Cameroun hudrocarbon joint ventures and was informed by Former President Buhari that Nigeria had accepted the International Court of Justice judgement but that the technical aspect of the international waters, which is the embodiment of the said Nigerian Mangroves island and waters, is yet to be fully determined.
“Worried that the continued expansionist foreign policy of the Republic of Cameroon 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 Cameroon 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 firmlywithin 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 Cameroon 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 Cameroon 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 Cameroon, Cameroon Republic has continued to hold up Nigerian territories to ransom, thus, adversely affecting the people and the economy of the entire nation.
An Ad-hoc Committee was setup to investigate the illegal annexation of Nigerian Mangroves Island at Etiat-Vibo by the Republic of Cameroon.
Report to be presented with necessary recommendations for the way forward.
