The Nigerian Senate has set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate claims that Cameroon has illegally annexed maritime territories, including mangrove islands and villages in the Effiat clan of Mbo Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State.
The decision was made on Tuesday following the adoption of a motion sponsored by Senator Aniekan Bassey (PDP-Akwa Ibom) and co-sponsored by six other senators during a plenary session.
The committee is led by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (APC-Ondo) and includes Senators Adeniyi Adegbonmire (APC-Ondo), Seriake Dickson (PDP-Bayelsa), Shehu Kaka (APC-Borno), Ipalibo Harry Banigo (PDP-Rivers), Agom Jarigbe (PDP-Rivers), Ekong Sampson (PDP-Akwa Ibom), and Aniekan Bassey (PDP-Akwa Ibom).
The Mbo Mangrove Island, located west of the Rio Del Ray estuary, serves as an official border between Nigeria and Cameroon. Reports indicate that the island contains oil wells and large gas reserves, making it an economically valuable region.
During the session, Bassey noted that the affected areas were never part of the territory ceded to Cameroon under the 1913 Anglo-German treaties or the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling of October 2002. He stated that the alleged annexation had led to significant economic losses for Nigeria, with over 2,560 oil wells and associated gas revenues now under Cameroon’s control.
Bassey described the situation as alarming, noting that Nigerians in 16 ancestral villages were being subjected to foreign laws imposed by the Cameroonian government. He also pointed out that the Anglo-Island waters in Mbo Local Government Area were now reportedly under Cameroon’s administrative control.
“This is illegal and contrary to the 1913 Anglo-German treaties, the International Court of Justice decision of October 2002, and Section 12, subsections 1, 2, and 3 of the Nigerian Constitution as amended,” Bassey said.
He further noted that the islands and waters were vital to local communities, not just for oil and gas resources but also for their rich fishing routes. He raised concerns about Cameroon’s continued territorial expansion through the annexation of Nigerian villages, calling it a violation of international law.
“It is an affront on Nigeria’s territorial integrity and unlawful exploitation of Nigeria’s economic resources,” he said.
According to him, the ICJ ruling had ordered both Nigeria and Cameroon to withdraw sovereignty over areas they were not entitled to under the 1913 treaty. While Nigeria had complied by ceding 32 villages from Adamawa to Lake Chad, Cameroon had allegedly refused to do the same, leading to economic and social hardship for affected Nigerians.
Several senators supported the motion, emphasizing the need for urgent action. Senator Barau Jibrin (APC-Kano) called for swift intervention by the National Boundary Commission to safeguard Nigeria’s territorial interests. Senator Victor Umeh (LP-Anambra) urged the government to enforce the ICJ ruling, stating that Nigeria must reclaim its lost territories.
“Let us act fast and recover our territory with over 2,000 oil wells,” Umeh said.
Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (APC-Ondo) described the situation as a direct challenge to Nigeria’s sovereignty and suggested reporting the matter to the United Nations.
Other lawmakers, including Senators Abdul Ningi (PDP-Bauchi), Seriake Dickson (PDP-Bayelsa), and Asuquo Ekpoyong (APC-Cross River), also spoke in support of the motion.
In response, the Senate resolved that its leadership would engage with President Bola Tinubu on the matter. It also urged the president to pursue diplomatic discussions to address the alleged annexation of Nigeria’s maritime territory and mangrove islands by Cameroon.
Additionally, the ad-hoc committee was directed to investigate the issue and report its findings within two weeks.
