Nigeria, Cameroon seek judgment clarification over Bakassi peninsula

Nigeria and Cameroon have agreed to return to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to seek clarification of some ambiguities in a ruling over possession of the Bakassi Peninsula.

Historically, Nigeria conceded Bakassi to Cameroon as far back as 1975 when Yakubu Gowon, a general, was military head of state.

In 2002, ICJ ruled against Nigeria when Obasanjo was president, and President Goodluck Jonathan handed over the peninsula to Cameroon in 2012 in compliance with the judgment.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the 24th session of the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission (CNMC), the two countries pledged to collaborate closely to promote the development of cross-border infrastructure projects.

The communiqué also added that the mixed commission recommended that the two parties finalise the agreement on the joint exploitation of the hydrocarbon along the maritime border.

Both countries commended the sub-commission on Demarcation and the Joint Technical Team for reaching an agreement on the course of the boundary in Mabas village and the project steering committee and the technical monitoring team for the successful construction of additional 327 pillars in Alantika mountains, which has been endorsed by the Mixed Commission.

Umar Gwandu, a spokesperson for Abubakar Malami, said the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) led the Nigerian team to the session.

Gwandu quoted Malami as expressing Nigeria’s determination to ensure that the limited areas of border disagreement between both countries are resolved amicably.

“Nigeria is committed to the quick and successful execution of the mandates of the Mixed Commission,” Malami said, noting that disagreements had been reduced to three.

Malami urged experts working on the issue to “embrace pragmatism in order to reach consensus in all the three areas of disagreement,” hoping that “amicable solutions would be found as soon as possible to enable the work to be completed”.