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Senate Moves To Avert Nigeria, Cameroon Border Row
L-R: Lagos Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Mr Gbolahan Lawal, Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State and Managing Director, Harmony Abattoir Management services, Mr Moshood Bello, during Gov. Fashola’s inspection visit to Agege Abattoir in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: NAN
The Senate yesterday directed its committee on states and local governments to liaise with the National Boundary Commission to investigate the United Nations’ decision to undertake boundary adjustment between Nigeria and Cameroon.
The upper chamber during plenary condemned in strong terms the attempt to cede part of Danare and Biajua communities of Boki Local Government Area to Cameroon based on “an imaginary projection of the Joint Technical Team and in disregard to subsection 12(1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.”
The Senate therefore urged the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Bello Adoke, to ensure a more effective supervision of the boundary demarcation exercise to forestall the country being short-changed under any guise.
Moving the motion on the issue, the Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, drew the attention of his colleagues to the recent activities of the Joint Technical Team, a sub body of the Nigeria-Cameroon Mixed Commission.
He said the team was mandated to carry out field work to trace, ascertain and reinforce the boundary points between the two countries.
He added that the team went to the villages of Danare and Biajua in Boki local government, Cross River State, aided by Nigerian soldiers to arbitrarily enforce demarcation of the boundary between the two countries.
He expressed concern that on two occasions, the exercise was attempted in the area, there was no representation from Cross River State in the United Nations team led by a Zimbabwean national, Mr. Paul Mbaya.
At the moment, he said Cameroonian security forces are guarding their border communities but there is no security presence on the Nigerian side.
Ndoma-Egba specifically drew the attention of the Senate to the October 10, 2002 adjustment exercise, and recalled that the International Court of Justice to which Nigeria had subjected itself gave judgment in the matter of the land and maritime dispute between Nigeria and Cameroon.
In its verdict, he added, the ICJ awarded ownership of Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon in spite of the strong historical, cultural and legal arguments put forward by Nigeria, a decision that has been trailed by much controversy till date.
According to Senator Ndoma-Egba, based on the ICJ ruling, the Nigeria-Cameroon Mixed Commission was set up under the auspices of the United Nations to give effect to the judgment and carry out detailed demarcation of the boundary between the two countries from Lake Chad to the Atlantic Ocean.
He pointed further that the ICJ judgment did not provide for land demarcation in southern Nigeria but expressly ruled on the maritime boundaries, therefore the land demarcation exercise in Cross River State is contrary to the ICJ judgment.
The Senate leader observed that on one hand, while the borders between the two countries have been successfully demarcated in some sectors, particularly at Lake Chad and Bakassi sectors, the demarcation exercise is still ongoing in other sectors.
He added that the exercise was currently centered around the Danare-Biajua sector in Boki local government.
The lawmaker also said that since the ICJ judgment recognised the Anglo-German boundary of 1913 as the boundary between the two countries in the Danare-Biajua sector, the job of the Joint Techical Team in this sector would be to trace and locate the boundary pillars.
The pillars, he said, were identified as pillars 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 113A and 114 planted under the Anglo-German agreement a century ago in order to reinforce it.
He further expressed concern that while pillars 109, 110, 111, 112, 113 and 114 have been successfully traced with the cooperation of the villagers on both sides of the boundary.
The pillar 113A, he stated, falls between pillars 113 and 114 and which is critical in determining the boundary is yet to be located.
He said rather than explore the area to find pillar 113A following pointers from the villagers, the Joint Technical Team took a short cut approach and has gone ahead to chart a straight line projection between pillars 113 and 114 which it attempted to enforce using armed soldiers before they were prevented by the villagers.
The senate leader described as “hasty and insensitive”, the shortcut approach by the Joint Technical Team which failed to consider the justice of the matter, economic interest of the people, known traditional boundaries and communal affiliation.
This, he stressed, was a potential time bomb capable of generating confusion and crises in the area if not checked.
The Senate Leader was disturbed that the ceding of Bakassi brought and has continued to bring untold hardship to indigenes of the peninsula who had relocated to a land locked area and lost not only their ancestral homes but the primary means of livelihood.
The Deputy Senate leader, Senator Abdul Ningi, said, the ceding of Bakassi was still an illegitimate action because it has not been ratified by the National Assembly.
He said there was the need for the upper chamber to know whether the United Nations technical committee got approval from the federal government before embarking on the exercise.
He said, “If the technical team did not get clearance from the federal government before carrying out the measurement, has made the entire exercise an illegal.”
Senator Thompson Sekibo, suggested the invitation of the National Boundary Commission to guide the senate. Technical equipment should be used to find the missing pole.
He insisted that Nigerians would resist any attempt to shift any land to another country. In African, losing of land to another person is a sign of weakness.
Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, suggested the setting up an ad hoc committee on the issue because the matter under consideration is technical and highly sensitive, hence the need for the senate to have facts.
Senate President, David Mark, proposed the need to get more facts from the senate committee supervising the boundary commission. He stressed the need to make decisions based on well informed facts.
The senate then asked the state and local governments committee as re-enforced, to determine the facts and report back in two weeks.
Mark said, “the matter is very serious, we need all the facts to enable us to take a decisive action on it.”
The Hausa Community in Rivers State has dissociated itself from media reports credited to one MaiwadaAdamu that the Arewa Community in Rivers State has appointed Alhaji Musa Saidu as the acting SarkinHausawa, PortHarcourt, following the inability of the former SarkinHausawa, Alhaji Isa Madaki to carry out his functions.
MaidawaAdamu, who is also the spokesman of the Arewa Initiative for Peaceful Co-existence, had briefed journalists on the change, but in a swift reaction, the Office of Alhaji Isa Madaki, has come out to say that the only recognised body which has the powers to appoint the SarkinHausawa, PortHarcourt is the Council of SarkinHausawa in PortHarcourt headed by Alhaji Isa Madaki.
The statement also said Alhaji Hussani Isa Madaki is the only recognisedSarkinHausawa, Port Harcourt, adding that his appointment follows the proclamation and endorsement by the council members of SarkinHausawa, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The statement further called on the general public and all authorities concerned to give Alhaji Hussani Isa Madaki maximum co-operation and support,as he discharges his duties as SarkinHausawa, Port Harcourt.
The Suspended Rivers State Commissioner for health, Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh, has described as baseless allegations in some quarters that she was responsible for the purported disruption of the Nigerian First Lady’s empowerment program in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh, who said this in a statement personally signed by her and a copy made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt also described the allegation as a product of the sick imagination of rumour mongers
According to Dr Oreh, “they are nothing more than a feeble and mischievous attempt to tarnish my reputation and sow discord”
In her words,”the allegations levelled against me, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, regarding the supposed disruption of the First Lady’s empowerment programme on Friday 2nd May, 2025, are entirely unfounded, completely false, and a product of the sick imagination of rumour mongers and conflict entrepreneurs.
“They are nothing more than a feeble and mischievous attempt to tarnish my reputation and sow discord.”
The suspended commissioner challenged those behind the allegation, especially the Concerned Rivers Youth Organisation to show proof of its assertion adding “It is essential to base criticisms on facts rather than speculation or puerile political agendas.
“I challenge the “Concerned Rivers Youth Organisation” (assuming such a body really exists) to provide tangible proof to support their assertions.
“It is essential to base criticisms on facts rather than speculation or puerile political agendas.
“I have neither sponsored nor will sponsor any activities aimed at embarrassing or disrupting the activities of the administration appointed by His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR to oversee the affairs of Rivers State following his declaration of a state of emergency on Tuesday, 18th March, 2025, and have rather spent the time of my suspension from office focused on other endeavours and my doctoral studies.
“I reaffirm my commitment to working tirelessly for the progress and development of Rivers State.
“Furthermore, I believe that it is crucial for all stakeholders to promote a culture of truth, integrity, and respect in public discourse.
“Unsubstantiated wild claims undermine trust and hinder constructive engagement, and this is not what the state needs at this difficult and delicate time.
“I urge everyone to focus on issues that unite us and foster a positive, solution-driven dialogue for the betterment of our State, and urge everyone to work together to build a brighter future for Rivers State, grounded in truth, transparency, and collective effort,”she said.
By: John Bibor
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has called on key regulators, asset owners and other stakeholders to continue to support the agency toward the goal of remediating the Ogoni environment and restoring the livelihoods of the people and building structures for peace.
The Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, who made the call during the Project’s first quarter meeting with regulators, asset owners and stakeholders in Port Harcourt, urged the stakeholders to remain resolute in supporting HYPREP’s work.
“We particularly expect each regulatory agency and asset owner to deepen their involvement and continue to provide strategic support to the project”, he said, stressing that the quarterly meeting platform remains instrumental in providing a structural avenue for regulators, asset owners, and implementation partners to offer feedback to HYPREP on project performance and deliberate on ideas that move the project forward, as well as strengthen collaboration, deepen synergy and reinforce collective responsibility.
Zabbey disclosed that the socio-economic study of Ogoni has started, as HYPREP has contacted the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organisation(WHO) to commence in the next quarter a three-year human health biomonitoring in Ogoniland.
He noted that work on several fronts of the cleanup project is progressing steadily, adding that as key project partners, the insights and shared experience of the regulators and asset owners have always enriched HYPREP’s operations.
He said the policy thrust of HYPREP for 2025 is clear, as the Project is intensifying efforts to complete within stated timelines, the various ongoing projects, including remediation works and mangrove restoration, potable water facilities, the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, the Ogoni Power Project, Ogoni Specialist Hospital, and Buan Cottage Hospital, among others.
Zabbey, however, announced that HYPREP would commence new set of shoreline cleanup, mangrove restoration and livelihood projects, to sustain the momentum of implementing the Ogoni cleanup, adding that the agency would also conduct detailed site characterisation of the high-risk complex sites, leading to remediation works at the sites.
He noted that HYPREP’s collaboration with Rivers State Ministries of Health, Power and Environment, and civil society organisations remains vital, stressing that the technical and administrative support of all relevant government agencies and funding partners is indispensable in helping HYPREP overcome operational bottlenecks, especially those encountered in interfacing with host communities.
He further indicated that “the people of Ogoni and the nation are looking to us with hope and expectation, and expect tangible results from the remediation initiative”, assuring the participants that the Project Coordination Office is committed to delivering positive results.
“We must, therefore, continue to work with diligence, transparency, and a renewed sense of purpose”, he declared, saying, “ the completion and commissioning of projects this year must reflect not only our technical ability but also our collective commitment to environmental sustainability and sustainable development in Ogoni.”
During the interactive session, the Project Coordinator briefed the participants on the progress made so far by HYPREP to conclude the distribution of starter packs to the 5,000 Ogoni trainees, and called on contractors who had already collected huge chunk of money for the project, to deliver without further delay.
In all, the regulators, asset owners and stakeholders commended HYPREP for the good works it is doing, and urged it to do more.
The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency(NOSDRA) was represented at the event by Deputy Director, Oil Field Assessment, Dr Abam Komommo Omini, while Dr Vincent Nwachukwu, Director of Medical Services, represented the Rivers State Ministry of Health.
The Rivers State Ministries of Water Resources, Power and Environment were represented by Dr Bealo Brownson; Engr K. J. Osele; and Mr James Ordu respectively, while the Society for Women and Youth Affairs (SWAYA); and the Stakeholder Democracy Network(SDN); among other civil society organisations were also at the event.
By: Donatus Ebi