Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Abuja (Agenzia Fides) - Nigeria's senate has approved a motion declaring that last year's handover of the oil-rich Bakassi peninsula to Cameroon was illegal.
With a vote yesterday 22 November, Senators called on the government to halt the transfer of areas along the border further north.
Nigeria ceded Bakassi to Cameroon in August 2006, following an International Court of Justice ruling in October 2002. In June 2006 at Green Tree, New York, former Nigerian president Obasanjo and his Cameroonian counterpart Paul Biya signed an agreement to implement the Court ruling.
The resolution voted by the Nigerian Semate affirms that the ceding of Bakassi to Cameroon was illegal because the June 2006 agreement had not been no ratified by the Nigerian national assembly. The text of the resolution says the Nigerian government must subject the agreement to the attention of parliament without delay to “enable the national assembly to discern whether or not its ratification is in the interest of Nigeria”. The senators recall that according to the Constitution, Bakassi is part of the national territory and therefore a constitutional amendment it necessary for it to be ceded to Cameroon.
Nigeria reinforced troops on its side of the border after 21 Cameroon troops were killed in Bakassi two weeks ago. (see Fides 14 and 15 November 2007). (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 23/11/2007 righe 19 parole 234)
