by Ashraf Oluwatobiloba, Kaduna.
The Nigerian Senate has set up an ad hoc committee to investigate allegations that Cameroon has illegally annexed Nigerian mangrove islands and maritime territories.
The committee is expected to submit a report within two months, outlining recommendations on how to address the territorial dispute.
Call for Immediate Action
The Senate has also urged President Bola Tinubu to:
🔹 Take swift action to protect Nigeria’s territorial waters
🔹 Secure over 2,560 oil wells located within the disputed mangrove islands in Akwa Ibom State
🔹 Engage in diplomatic talks to resolve the crisis
Senator Raises Alarm Over Encroachment
The motion for the committee’s formation was sponsored by Senator Aniekan Bassey (Akwa Ibom North-East) under Senate Orders 41 and 51.
Bassey warned that the alleged encroachment poses serious economic and territorial risks, emphasizing that:
✅ The islands in Efiat, Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, were not part of areas ceded to Cameroon under:
- The 1913 Anglo-German treaties
- The 2002 International Court of Justice ruling
“It is a serious national embarrassment that foreign laws are being imposed by Cameroonian forces on Nigerians living in the 16 ancestral villages in these areas. This illegal annexation has led to significant economic losses, especially in oil and gas revenues,” Bassey stated.
Next Steps
🔹 The Senate committee will investigate and submit a report within two months
🔹 Lawmakers will engage President Tinubu on possible diplomatic solutions
🔹 The government may pursue legal or diplomatic actions to reclaim the disputed territories
More developments are expected as the investigation unfolds.
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