The Nigerian Senate has set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate the alleged annexation of the country’s mangrove islands and maritime territories by the Republic of Cameroon. The committee, tasked with probing the situation, is expected to report its findings and recommendations within the next two months.
This development follows concerns raised by lawmakers regarding the encroachment of Cameroonian forces into Nigeria’s territorial waters. The Senate has urged President Bola Tinubu to take immediate action to protect Nigeria’s territorial interests, particularly focusing on safeguarding over 2,560 oil wells located within the disputed mangrove islands in Akwa Ibom State.
In its resolutions, the Senate also pledged to work directly with President Tinubu to explore potential diplomatic solutions to the growing crisis, which lawmakers referred to as a “provocation” by Cameroon.
The motion, raised under Orders 41 and 51 during a plenary session on Tuesday, was led by Senator Aniekan Bassey. He expressed alarm over the economic and territorial risks posed by Cameroon’s alleged encroachment. The senator emphasized that the mangrove islands in question, situated in Efiat, Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom, were not part of the territories that Cameroon was entitled to under the 1913 Anglo-German treaties or the ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in October 2002.
Senator Bassey also condemned the actions of Cameroonian security forces, known as the Gendarmes, who have reportedly imposed foreign laws on Nigerian citizens residing in 16 ancestral villages in the disputed region. He described the situation as a “monumental national embarrassment” and called for urgent attention to the matter.
The motion further stressed that Cameroon’s alleged annexation violates multiple international agreements, including the ICJ ruling, and lawmakers are calling for a review of the judgment. Additionally, the Senate has called for the matter to be raised at the United Nations Convention to ensure that Nigeria’s territorial integrity is protected.
The Senate’s move highlights the seriousness with which the country is addressing the issue, aiming to prevent further escalation of the territorial dispute and ensure the protection of Nigeria’s economic interests in the affected region.
