Nigeria will abide by IJC judgment on Bakassi–Buhari

Nigeria is a law-abiding nation and will abide by the International Court of Justice(IJC) judgment on Bakassi peninsula.

President Muhammadu Buhari said on Wednesday when he reacted to the rumour expressed by Cameroonian media on Nigeria’s interest in the maritime region of the peninsula.

At a joint interactive session he held with visiting President Paul Biya of Cameroon and the media in Abuja, he said there was no cause for alarm.

He added that the Federal Government would react to the maritime issue after a joint committee of Nigeria and Cameroon experts submits its report.

“On this issue, I want to tell the people of Cameroon to keep their mind at peace.

“Nigeria is an internationally respectful and law-abiding nation,” Buhari said.

The President noted that there was the issue of hydrocarbons in the Bakassi region, which was brought to the attention of the international court of justice.

He said Nigeria had accepted the judgment but the technical aspect of the international waters had yet to be fully determined.

Accordingly, Buhari said that an international committee of experts from Nigeria and Cameroon was set up and the country was awaiting the report of that committee after his administration would do what would benefit both nations.

Buhari appreciated the visit of President Biya and his delegation and that the bi lateral meeting they had was fruitful and beneficial to the two countries.

He said the communiqué issued at the end of interaction with Biya had explained in detail what was discussed but observed that security and the economy were paramount.

President Paul Biya of Cameroon denied the allegation that his country was reluctant in joining forces with the Lake Chad Basin countries to fight Boko Haram, saying that it was the handiwork of international media to malign his country.

He said Cameroon stood to benefit nothing from the terror organisation whether in ideology of finances.

President Biya thanked President Buhari and the Nigerian people for the warm hospitality accorded his delegation as well as the outcome of the deliberations.

Biya described Nigeria as a very beautiful country, adding that the bilateral meeting was held under a conducive and friendly atmosphere.

He said that the meeting allowed both parties to reflect and take decisions on regional and bi-national issues and restated the determination of both nations to abide by the outcomes of the meeting, especially the Boko Haram fight.

Biya said that having recognized the security needs in the insurgency-stricken areas, Nigeria and Cameroon also hoped to dwell much on the economic recovery of the region to revive the economy and stabilize the region.