Abuja:Nearly 24 years after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) resolved the boundary dispute between Nigeria and Cameroon, both countries are close to completing the physical demarcation of their borders. This development was detailed by Mr. Adamu Adaji, Director-General of the National Boundary Commission (NBC), in an exclusive interview.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the ICJ ruling on October 10, 2002, awarded sovereignty of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon and delineated the land and maritime boundaries between the two nations. Adaji elaborated that the remaining demarcation work is focused on the Adamawa sector, which involves the installation of over 260 boundary pillars.
As the demarcation process nears completion, expected within two or three months, the focus will shift to managing the boundary and addressing the needs of affected communities. The boundary, stretching approximately 2,100 kilometers, is Nigeria’s longest international land boundary.
Adaji noted that the boundary dispute initially centered on the Bakassi Peninsula but eventually covered the entire boundary from the Chad Basin to the sea. Implementation of the ICJ judgment began in 2002 under the auspices of the United Nations, leading to the establishment of the Nigeria-Cameroon Mixed Commission to address remaining issues.
Disagreements in certain sectors were resolved through presidential interventions from both countries, allowing adjustments to the boundary lines to consider the interests of the affected populations. For example, the Koja settlement, initially placed mostly in Cameroon, was retained in Nigeria following mutual concessions.
The next phase will focus on providing development and basic needs for the affected communities, with the NBC working alongside international partners and the governments of both countries. Cross-border cooperation is also being emphasized to facilitate information sharing and maintain community ties.
Adaji also addressed Nigeria’s maritime boundaries, stating that they are defined through coordinates rather than visible markers. While the maritime boundary with Cameroon has been resolved, negotiations continue with Equatorial Guinea and Ghana, and the boundary with Benin is defined by treaty.