August 05, (THEWILL) – The Federal Government has demanded full compliance with the judgement of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the border dispute between Nigeria and Cameroon.
Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, told the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa and Sahel, Mahamat Saleh Annadif, who was on a courtesy call to his office on Wednesday.
Malami’s spokesman, Dr Umar Gwandu, quoted him as saying: “It will be appreciated if all aspects of the disagreed areas of boundary between Nigeria and Cameroon are resolved and demarcated in accordance with the judgement of the International Court of Justice without fear or favour.”
The AGF assured that Nigeria was committed to the finalisation of the boundary demarcation exercise between Nigeria and Cameroon.
“I wish to assure you that the Nigerian Delegation is confident that under your leadership, the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission (CNMC) will continue to achieve more success in its efforts to permanently demarcate the boundary between Cameroon and Nigeria in line with the Judgement of the International Court of Justice and other relevant Treaties and Declarations”, Malami has said.
He expressed optimism the steps taken in resolving the outstanding areas of disagreement on the boundary between Cameroon and Nigeria, the boundary will be fully and legally demarcated in no distant time.
Malami said the proposed session of the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission (CNMC) that will be convened soon in Yaounde will pave the way for landmark achievements including the demarcation exercise.
Responding, Annadif said his visit has opened an outstanding chapter in international relations and diplomacy with a view to promoting peace among brother nations.
He said the engagement is proof that African problems could be addressed, using African solutions by Africans, while emphasising the cordiality of the relationship and mutual understanding between the two neighbouring countries.
On the 10th of October 2002, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) delivered the Bakassi decision, which, amongst other things, excised the resource rich land and maritime territory of Bakassi from Nigeria and transferred its legal title to Cameroon.
Nigeria and Cameroon, under the auspices of the United Nations, had established the mechanism of the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission to honour and implement their obligations under the ICJ decision after a diplomatic Green Tree agreement negotiated by the former President of the United States, Bill Clinton.
