By Caroline Ameh
The Nigerian Senate has launched a probe into the alleged encroachment of Nigerian territories by Cameroon, raising concerns over violations of international treaties, economic losses, and threats to national sovereignty.
The decision followed a motion raised on Tuesday by Senator Aniekan Bassy (Akwa Ibom North), who highlighted that 16 ancestral Nigerian communities and over 2,500 oil wells were reportedly affected. He stressed that these areas were not part of the territories ceded to Cameroon under the 1913 Anglo-German treaties or the 2002 International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling.
Bassy warned that the encroachment has led to economic setbacks in oil and gas revenues while Nigerians residing in the affected regions face the imposition of Cameroonian laws and military presence.
Supporting the motion, Senators expressed concerns that the development undermines Nigeria’s territorial integrity and violates agreements, including the 1960 Organization of African Unity resolution, which upholds post-independence borders.
The Senate has urged the Attorney General of the Federation and the Chief Justice of Nigeria to urgently examine the issue.
In response, Senate President Godswill Akpabio emphasized that the matter constitutes a violation of the ICJ ruling and must be thoroughly investigated. The Senate resolved to establish an ad hoc committee to assess the affected territories, including Nigerian Mangos Island, and recommend measures to protect the country’s sovereignty and economic interests.
Additionally, lawmakers called on President Bola Tinubu to engage in diplomatic discussions with his Cameroonian counterpart to resolve the situation.
This development comes amid lingering tensions over border demarcations between Nigeria and Cameroon, despite previous ICJ rulings and bilateral agreements.
