By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief) @CelestineOkaf11
The Federal Government of Nigeria has expressed determination to amicably resolve, in no distant time, the limited areas of border disagreement between Nigeria and Cameroon.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) who is the leader of the Nigerian delegation, made this known at the 34th session of the Camaroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission (CNMC) held between 25th and 26th August, 2022, in Abuja, Nigeria.
Speaking at the event, Malami said, "Nigeria is committed to the quick and successful execution of the mandates of the Mixed Commission". He noted that areas of disagreement have been reduced to just three.
The AGF however called on the experts to "embrace pragmatism in order to reach consensus in all the three areas of disagreement," hoping that "amicable solutions would be found as soon as possible to enable the work be completed".
At the session, Nigeria and the Government of Republic of Cameroon showed commitment to work closely with all the parties to identify and encourage the implementation of trans-border infrastructural project to enhance the economic cooperation and the integration of the two countries and the west African region in general.
The Mixed Commission recommended that the two parties finalised the agreement on the joint exploitation of the hydrocarbon along the maritime border.
A Comminique issued at the end of the session, noted that the parties involved did not have same understanding of the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) judgement on the course of the boundary on localities of Rhoumski, Pillar 8 and Koja.
The Mixed Commission agreed to table discussion on the matter to the ICJ for clarification of its decision.
The two countries commended the sub-commission on Demarcation and the Joint Technical Team for reaching an agreement on the course of the boundary in Mabas village and the project steering committee and the technical monitoring team for a successful construction of additional 327 pillars in Alantika mountains, which has been endorsed by Mixed Commission.
It could be recalled that the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission was established pursuant to the Joint Communique adopted at a summit in Geneva on 15th November, 2002. NNL.
