Senate probes alleged annexation of Nigerian territories by Cameroon

The Senate yesterday set up an ad hoc committee to investigate alleged annexation of Nigerian territories in some local governments in Rivers and Akwa Ibom states by the Republic of Cameroon.

The Red Chamber urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take immediate steps to protect Nigeria’s territorial waters and secure over 2,560 oil wells located within the disputed mangrove islands in Akwa Ibom State.

The Senate’s resolutions followed its consideration and adoption of a motion, titled: “Illegal annexation of Nigerian mangroves islands, waters and its crude oil by the Republic of Cameroun,” sponsored by Senator Aniekan Bassey (PDP, Akwa Ibom North West) during plenary.

The motion was co-sponsored by Senators Ekong Sampson Akpan (PDP, Akwa Ibom South), Aminu Iya Abbas (Adamawa Central), Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe (Cross River North), Williams Eteng Jonah (Cross River Central) and Ekpenyong Asuquo (Cross River South).

Members of the committee include Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (Chairman), as well as Senators Adeniyi Adegbonmire (SAN), Shehu Kaka Lawan, Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, Ekong Sampson and Aniekan Bassey.

Others are: Senators Seriake Dickson, Victor Umeh, Abdul Ningi, Ipalibo Harry Banigo, and Sani Bello.

The ad hoc committee was give four weeks to report back to the Senate.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the leadership of the Red Chamber wanted the President to explore diplomatic solutions to the crisis.

In his lead debate, Senator Bassey said: “It is a monumental national embarrassment that foreign laws are being imposed by the Cameroonian Gendarmes on Nigerians living in the 16 ancestral villages in these areas.

"This encroachment is illegal and has resulted in a significant economic loss, particularly in oil and gas revenues.”

He added: “I rise with utmost sense of responsibility to direct the attention of this Senate to the illegal annexations of Nigerian mangrove islands situated at Efiat in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State by the Republic of Cameroon.

“This is noting that the islands in focus were not part of the territories ceded to the Government of Cameroun 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 2,560 oil wells and gas revenues which ought to accrue to Nigeria.

“Also very pathetic; it is a monumental national embarrassment that foreign laws are imposed by the Cameroonian Gendarmes on Nigerians living in the 16 Nigerian ancestral homes and villages and on the said mangrove islands.