The member representing Boki/Ikom Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Chief (Hon.) Victor Abang, along with seven other federal MPs from Cross River state, has initiated a legislative framework calling for immediate parliamentary intervention to prevent the ceding of more Nigerian land to Cameroon. In a Motion of National Importance titled “Demarcation and Ceding of Danare/Biajua Communities in Boki LGA Through Pillar 113A to the Republic of Cameroon,” sponsored by Hon. Victor Abang and seven others, the outspoken lawmaker expressed his concerns about the actions of the Joint Technical Team (JTT), a sub-body of the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission (CNMC). He argued that these actions violated international law on boundaries, particularly the resolution of the Greentree Agreement of 2006, which aimed to implement the ICJ Judgment of 2002.

Furthermore, Chief Abang referred to the Anglo-German Treaty of 1913, which identified the coordinates of pillars 109, 110, 111, 112, and 113A. He highlighted that pillar 113 cannot be used as the sole basis for boundary adjustment without considering pillar 113A. He criticized the JTT for failing to utilize the latest geodetic and geoinformatics tools to identify the location of Colonial Bacon 113A, thereby turning a manageable situation into an international controversy. He warned that if immediate action is not taken to address the actions of the group, the country could lose over 9,000 km² of land to Cameroon.

Members of the House, led by the Speaker, Rt Hon Tajudeen Abaas, expressed their views on the matter during the session. They were dismayed by the actions of the JTT, which ironically is driven by the Nigerian Boundary Commission. Consequently, the House passed a resolution to establish an investigative committee, led by Rt Hon Beni Lar, to investigate the issue and report back to the House.

Office of the Federal MP, Boki/Ikom
Simon Abang
Wednesday, July 5, 2023