By Kayode Araba
Thus, the Nigerian Senate has established a nine-member ad-hoc committee to investigate the alleged illegal annexation of Nigerian territory by neighboring Cameroon.
However, this decision follows a motion sponsored by Senator Aniekan Bassey, who highlighted the loss of sixteen ancestral communities and 2,560 oil wells in Akwa Ibom State due to a 2002 World Court judgment.
Moreso, this motion also highlighted that the illegal annexation violates multiple international agreements, with lawmakers advocating for a review of the ICJ judgment and calling for the matter to be reported to the United Nations Convention.
The Senators from Cross River,Adamawa and Ogun states equally drew the attention of the senate to similar situations in their various states.
In addition, other lawmakers also expressed dismay over the implementation of the ICJ judgement describing it as one sided and called for a total review.
Therefore, the lawmakers thereafter resolved that Senator Jimoh Ibrahim led ad-hoc committee to urge President Bola Tinubu to take immediate steps to safeguard Nigeria’s territorial waters, including securing over 2,560 oil wells identified within the disputed mangrove islands in Akwa Ibom State.
