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Nigeria will comply with ICJ ruling on Bakassi Peninsula – Buhari assures; as Biya ends State Visit
Buhari who spoke, Wednesday, at a joint interactive he held with President Paul Biya of Cameroon and the media in Abuja, assured his counterpart that there was no cause for alarm, even as 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.
In his earlier remarks, Buhari appreciated the visit of President Biya and his delegation, adding that the bilateral meeting was fruitful and beneficial to the two countries.
He said the communiqué had explained in detail what was discussed, but observed that security and the economy were paramount.
He said that Nigeria had decided to diversify its economy due to the fall in global oil price, adding that the country would focus on agriculture, solid minerals, among others.
He said Nigeria was ready to explore its potentials hence the programme to quickly turn to agriculture and to ensure food security as well as create jobs for the youths.
Buhari noted that Nigeria’s economy was based on agriculture before oil was discovered and wondered why the important resource base was abandoned by past administrations.
“Now we have to go back to the basics and to do that we need the cooperation of our immediate neighbours,’’ he said.
Accordingly, Buhari urged cooperation in the area of security and also thanked the G-7 countries for assisting in the fight against insurgency via technology, communication and intelligence.
Buhari, however, said that his administration was alive to its responsibilities and would remain focused in the fight against terror in the region and the continent.
Biya while responding to the allegation that his country was reluctant in joining forces with the Lake Chad Basin countries to fight Boko Haram, denied it saying it was the handiwork of international media to malign his country.
“I must say that Cameroon was never reluctant in the fight against Boko Haram,’’ adding that he had heard at conferences that his country served as bases for the insurgent group.
He said Cameroon stood to benefit nothing from the terror organization, whether in ideology or finances.
“This is just about bad press and Cameroon remains focused and committed in the fight against Boko Haram,’’ Biya added.
Responding, 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.
Meanwhile, at a dinner and cultural night organised in honour of the visiting President of Cameroon, Mr Paul Biya and his wife, Chantal Biya, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, earlier Tuesday night, President Buhari lauded the people and government of Republic of Cameroon for hosting over 56,000 Internally Displaced Persons from Nigeria since July 2014.
Buhari, who also expressed appreciation to United Nations and other international donor agencies for their various assistances to IDPs across the country, condoled with the families of those that lost their loved ones as a result of the murderous activities of the Boko Haram insurgents.
“Our special condolences go to families of our fallen heroes who had sacrificed their lives to safe guard our territorial integrity and provide security of lives and property of our people
“Permit me to use this occasion of your Excellency’s visit to Nigeria to once again extend my personal gratitude and that of the Federal Government for your country’s hosting of over 65,000 Nigerian refugees since July 2014.
“We also appreciate the assistance of the United Nations System, International donors, local and international non-governmental organisations and the ordinary Cameroonian families who share their meager provisions with the refugees in the spirit of African brotherhood.
“We thank them all.’’
According to him, a comprehensive rehabilitation and resettlement programme for the IDPs are being worked out by the Federal Government in collaboration with some international organisations, saying that data of the IDPs are being collated for smooth implementation of the scheme.
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The president also expressed delight with the successes being recorded in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency by the Nigerian military in collaboration with the Multinational Joint Task Force against Boko Haram.
He, particularly, commended the Cameroonian security agencies who recently participated in a joint military onslaught against the terrorist sect along the border areas of the Lake Chad.
President Buhari reassured that the battle against the terrorist group would soon be over as efforts had been intensified by various security agencies across member countries of the multinational joint task force.
He said that Nigeria and Cameroon would continue to maintain the path of dialogue and peace in addressing possible incident of social conflict or misunderstanding among the citizens of both countries.
The president assured that Nigeria would continue to partner with Cameroon in growing the economies as well as to ensure the safety of lives, land and maritime borders of the both countries.
In his remarks, President Biya, who spoke in French, reiterated the determination of his country to end the menace of the Boko Haram insurgency.
He commended the efforts of President Buhari in the ongoing war against terrorist group within and beyond Nigeria.
He, however, called for joint agricultural programmes between Nigeria and Cameroon along their border communities to address the challenges of youth unemployment in their respective countries
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Bukola Saraki; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, Chief Justice of the Federation, Mahmud Muktar, and top private sector and government functionaries from Cameroon attended the event.
