“Such actions would have resulted in a significant loss of our land and heritage,” the lawmaker warned.
By Our Reporter
Nigeria has halted the plan to hand over 10,000 hectares of land to Cameroon, Hon Victor Abang, the lawmaker representing Ikom/Boki in the House of Representatives, has said.
The legislator announced the decision at a town‑hall meeting and constituency briefing held at Keyang 2 in the Boki local government area last year.
Abang explained that the proposed transfer stemmed from the 2002 International Court of Justice ruling, which required the border to be defined in line with the Anglo‑German Treaty of 1913.
“To this effect, a joint committee was established to oversee the implementation,” he said.
He added that the committee had attempted to demarcate the boundary without proper reference to existing colonial features.
“Unfortunately, they ignored the boundary line marked by Pillar 113A, a recognised colonial demarcation separating Nigeria and Cameroon,” Abang noted.
“If the demarcation had proceeded, more than 10,000 hectares of Nigerian territory ,including parts of the Biajua and Danare communities ,would have been ceded to Cameroon.
“Such actions would have resulted in a significant loss of our land and heritage,” the lawmaker warned.
In response, Abang presented a motion on July 5, 2023, which was promptly deliberated by the House of Representatives.
“The exercise has been halted pending a comprehensive review of the process,” he affirmed.
During the same gathering, the representative unveiled a compendium of his two‑year achievements titled “The Banjuere”.
The document highlighted projects such as a mini‑stadium, the installation of telecommunication masts linking 35 communities, and the provision of N300 million worth of medical equipment to the Abo Ebam Primary Health Centre.
Abang also reminded constituents that he sponsored the National Park Service (Amendment) Bill, aimed at environmental conservation and the creation of the Okwangwo National Park Unit as an independent entity to boost the economic and developmental value of the Boki forest.
He thanked his constituents in Boki for their support and urged them to continue their vigilance in protecting’s territorial integrity. “We will ensure that any future boundary adjustments adhere strictly to our legal and historical rights,” he said.