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Tag: bakassi

Four foreign firms scrambling for Bakassi deep seaport

Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade has said four international companies with expertise in deep seaport are scrambling to invest in the Bakassi Deep Seaport being developed by the state.

Addressing reporters at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport in Calabar, the state capital, on his return from 11 Europe, Asia and South America, the governor said it was imperative that he undertook the trip to bolster the state’s economy.

Ayade, who was received by his deputy, Prof Ivara Esu, and the State Executive Council, said: “In recognising the challenges that we have as a country and, of course, with the meltdown in the global economy, it is evident that only states that globalise their economies can move forward.

“So, what I have done is to go round the world to source a team of investors and bring them to Cross River State. What you are going to see in a couple of months is a team of investors arriving the state.”

The governor said Cross River offered a special appeal as an investment destination, adding: “Some teams had arrived the state during my absence to do final detailed analysis and feasibility studies to come back with vigour to invest in the state. You will soon be seeing investors pouring in to finalise the discussions we had overseas.”

Ayade, who said he did a lot of presentations to several groups in Switzerland and China, said: “When I finished the presentations of our potential in the deep seaport, they obviously knew that it was an opportunity for them to invest.

“When I did another presentation to another team in Belgium, they were fighting among themselves as to who will take over the project. In fact, they were so excited to take over.

“As I speak to you today, I have four major port companies that are dying to take the project, even if Cross River State has no dime.”

The governor noted that although Cross River received little from the federation account, “yet we were one of the few states that paid salaries before Easter”.

He added: “This is an indication that we have the capacity and vision to move the state beyond money by using our intellect and fear of God.”

March 31, 2016
Army provides free medical service to 300 Bakassi IDPs

No fewer than 300 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Bakassi local government area of Cross River last Friday benefited from the free medical outreach of the 13 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Calabar.

Brig.-Gen. Sani Mohammed, Commander of the Brigade, said the humanitarian medical outreach was part of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai’s vision on civil-military relations.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the IDPs are camping at Ikot Effiong/Obutong primary school in Bakassi local government area of the state.

Mohammed said the Army decided to reach out to the IDPs because they needed adequate medical service to keep them in good health.

“We are here today to offer free medical treatment to the IDPs. When you look around and see where they are camping, you will believe that they really need adequate medical care.

“We are here with our full medical team that will carry out different test on the IDPs and also administer them with drugs.

“Earlier today, we also carried out a similar medical outreach in the barracks where the children/wards of soldiers and friends of the Army were equally tested and administered with drugs,’’ he said.

The commander advised the IDPs to have a positive outlook towards life, adding that the Army would always remember them in their activities.

NAN reports that the IDPs were tested for malaria, blood pressure, hepatitis, typhoid and fever, among others, while drugs were equally administered to them.

Speaking, the Coordinator of the camp, Mr Aston Inyang, thanked the Army for their humanitarian medical outreach.

Inyang said that they were brought to the camp on Oct. 4, 2009, after the ceding of the oil rich Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon on Aug. 14, 2008.

According to him, the camp has been neglected by the government and appealed to the state and federal governments to come to their aid.

“Our greatest challenge here is that we lack adequate medical care and the young ladies who are pregnant always feel it more.

“We have not been given fair attention as it concerns health. Our camp is so large that we are supposed to have our own separate health care centre built by the government.

“From 2009 to now, we have lost over 40 persons which include women, men and children and a lot are still under medical challenges because they have no money to access medical treatment,’’ he said.

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Eno Samson, who thanked the Army for their medical assistant, appealed to other corporate bodies and philanthropists, to also assist them in the areas of food, security and shelter.

October 9, 2015
Army provides free medical service to Bakassi IDPs

No fewer than 300 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Bakassi local government area of Cross River on Friday benefited from the free medical outreach conducted by the 13 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Calabar.

Brig.-Gen. Sani Mohammed, Commander of the Brigade, said that the humanitarian medical outreach was part of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai’s vision on civil-military relations.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the IDPs are camping at Ikot Effiong/Obutong primary school in Bakassi local government area of the state.

Mohammed said that the Army decided to reach out to the IDPs because they needed adequate medical service to keep them in good health.

“We are here to offer free medical treatment to the IDPs. When you look around and see where they are camping, you will believe that they really need adequate medical care.

“We are here with our full medical team that will carry out different test on the IDPs and also administer them with drugs.

“Earlier today, we also carried out a similar medical outreach in the barracks where the children/wards of soldiers and friends of the Army were equally tested and administered with drugs,’’ he said.

The commander advised the IDPs to have a positive outlook towards life, adding that the Army would always remember them in their activities.

NAN reports that the IDPs were tested for malaria, blood pressure, hepatitis, typhoid and fever, among others, while drugs were equally administered to them.

Speaking, the Coordinator of the camp, Mr. Aston Inyang, thanked the Army for their humanitarian medical outreach.

Inyang said that they were brought to the camp on Oct. 4, 2009, after the ceding of the oil rich Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon on Aug. 14, 2008.

According to him, the camp has been neglected by the government and appealed to the state and federal governments to come to their aid.

“Our greatest challenge here is that we lack adequate medical care and the young ladies who are pregnant always feel it more.

“We have not been given fair attention as it concerns health. Our camp is so large that we are supposed to have our own separate health care centre built by the government.

“From 2009 to now, we have lost over 40 persons which include women, men and children and a lot are still under medical challenges because they have no money to access medical treatment,’’ he said.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Eno Samson, who thanked the Army for their medical assistant, appealed to other corporate bodies and philanthropists, to also assist them in the areas of food, security and shelter.

October 2, 2015
Bakassi: Shameless surrender to shenanigans of imperialism
[dropcap]I[/dropcap]t is no longer news that the federal government foreclosed any attempt to seek the review of the judgment of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) siting at The Hague over the disputed Bakassi peninsula on the grounds that the case was closed since 10^th October 2012.

But The notion that there was no point crying over spilled milk, fails to address various critical fundamental issues and the question of lapses by Nigerian government officials in foreseeing moves by Cameroon and France taking preemptive action and other measures that could have mitigated the country’s loss in the embarrassing situation.

Surely, Nigeria suffered a demotion of prestige and status for having its face rubbed in the mud by Cameroon, a situation worsened by the fact that People of the old eastern Nigeria still nurse the feeling that Gowon ceded Bakassi to Cameroon as a negotiation in order to win the Biafra war.

What is more infuriating to some was the invitation by President Jacques Chirac of France to President Obasanjo to come over to Paris for a parley with President Paul Biya of Cameroon with a view to soliciting the agreement of both parties to abide by whatever decision the Court handed down.

If there was any time to be suspicious of the French connection, it was at that point in time but our former President Obasanjo ignorantly agreed to play ball. Nigeria ought to have even smelt a rat in light of the nationality of the President of the ICJ and other surrounding circumstances.

Chief Richard Akinjide, a former Nigerian Attorney-General and Minister of Justice described the decision of the ICJ as “50% international law and 50% international politics”, “blatantly biased and unfair”, “a total disaster”, and a “complete fraud”. He also said that as far as the case between Nigeria and Cameroun was concerned, the dispute was really between Nigeria and France. Cameroun was just the proxy for France.

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There is no doubt that in law and in fact that Bakassi belongs to Nigeria because that is supported by a lot of documentary evidence, which were tendered before the court. But which the court ignored…You don’t ask somebody to transfer to you what belongs to you. He further said “as far as I’m concerned the judgment of the ICJ is a complete fraud and unacceptable…If indeed Bakassi belongs to Cameroun, how can Camerounians be asking them to transfer it to them”.

However, the judgment was “a rape and unforeseen potential international conspiracy against Nigerian territorial integrity and sovereignty” and “part of a Western ploy to foment and perpetuate trouble in Africa”.

But from my own point of view, it is unfair for the ICJ to give such judgment without considering the option of referendum or plebiscite for the people of Bakassi. The ICJ judgment on the Bakassi Peninsula and its inhabitants is repugnant to the law of natural justice, equity and good conscience.

How can you decide the fate and life of another man without seeking for his opinion and history? The people of Bakassi have the right to self-determination.

We believe the worst thing you can do to any man in this civilized world of today is to deny him his fundamental human rights. The people of Bakassi have been denied the rights to “Self-determination”.

They were not put into consideration or even given the chance to indicate where they wish to belong even the United Nations, of which the ICJ is an organ, would place sufficient importance on the people of Bakassi; they would have ordered a plebiscite to, at least, give credence to the rights of self-determination, which is one of the principle upon which the United Nations is built.

The ICJ should not have ceded the people of Bakassi and their land in Nigeria (which is their ‘natural birthplace’ and where their ancestors are buried), to Cameroon. The question here, is it not appropriate and important for the ICJ to put referendum into consideration?

Was it not necessary for the ICJ to initiative a more embracing diplomatic approach that would give the Bakassi people the chance to decide their destiny for themselves? Rather than seat in their court room at The Hague and distort the future generations of a people with a mere stroke of the gavel.

According to international best practice, consent of people residing in a territory (by way of plebiscite), is a condition-precedent to any transfer or change in title over the territory that they occupy. Even when the fate of Northern and Southern Cameroun were to be determined, a plebiscite was conducted in 1961, under which Southern Cameroun opted to join Cameroun, while Northern Cameroun opted to join Nigeria. That could be a case, which confirmed what is called Right to Self-Determination. I am of the view that it is still part and parcel of international best practices that inhabitants of the territory are consulted and allowed to make their own choice.

From pure normative perspective, the best procedure for establishing a state boundary is a referendum conducted among the interested population under international supervision.

Historically, referendum has often been used to justify boundaries in various quarters.

For example, Norway’s decision to separate from Sweden in 1905 was made by the Norwegian people in a referendum in which 99.9 per cent voted for independence, a powerful expression of national pride. Similarly, Iceland held a referendum on becoming independent from Denmark. Spain’s adoption of democratic reform in the late 1970s after the death of the dictator Franco was approved by the people through a referendum.

Likewise, new constitutions have come into being through referendums in Denmark, France, and Ireland. The decision to move to multi-party politics has been taken by referendum in some African countries, such as Gabon and Malawi. In each case, it has been important for the legitimacy of the decision that this step towards independence or democracy has been taken by the people directly and not by the political elite.

Also the sovereignty referendum on the Falkland Island/Malvinas 2013, the most recent were

The Scottish independence referendum was a referendum on Scottish independence that took place in Scotland on 18 September 2014.

The independence referendum question, which voters answered with “Yes” or “No”, was “Should Scotland be an independent country?” The “No” side won, with 2,001,926 (55.3%) voting against independence and 1,617,989 (44.7%) voting in favour.

Even Crimean status referendum, 2014 was a referendum on the status of Crimea held on March 16, 2014, by the legislature of Autonomous Republic of Crimea as well as by the local government of Sevastopol, both subdivisions of Ukraine at the time. The referendum asked the people of Crimea whether they wanted to join Russia as a federal subject, or if they wanted to restore the 1992 Crimean constitution and Crimea’s status as a part of Ukraine.

But in the case of Bakassi dispute, the People were never given the chance to exercise their right of self-determination.

The right of self-determination is a human rights basis of the United Nations and its purposes and a key concept in the most important international Covenants and Charters.

It is also an ius cogens (compelling law) norm, the highest category in international law.

Take for example various provisions of international law that gives recognition and legitimacy to right to self-determination:
Furthermore, the scope and content of the right to self-determination has been elaborated upon by the UN Human Rights Committee and the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and numerous leading international jurists.

[quote font_size=”18″ font_style=”italic” color=”#ffffff” bcolor=”#f9f9f9″ arrow=”yes”]Therefore, in the light of these aforementioned premises, it can be concluded that the ICJ ruling in simply a Violation of the Human Right of Self-Determination of the people of Bakassi and various positions of international law. On the implementation of the Controversial Green tree Agreement[/quote]

It is important to note that the transfer of Bakassi was a gross violation of Nigeria’s Constitution, which had failed to realize that a portion of her land and its people has been given out in charity; and that the treaty was not submitted to the National Assembly for ratification or domestication before it was given effect, as envisaged by the Constitution.

Analysing the legal effect of the position of President Muhammadu Buhari Speaking on Wednesday July 29, during an interactive session with Nigerians living in Cameroon, says Nigeria will abide by the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the Bakassi Peninsula and said his administration will ensure the faithful implementation of the Green Tree Agreement, which regulates the ceding of Bakassi to Cameroon.

Buhari should not forget the fact that the Nigerian Senate rejected the transfer of Bakassi to Cameroun on 22nd November 2007, since the Green Tree Agreement ceding the area to Cameroon was contrary to Section 12 (1) of the 1999 Constitution. Regardless of this, the territory was formally transferred to Cameroon on 14, August 2008 by the Obasanjo administration.

Although, Section 12 does not give the National Assembly any legal role in the ratification of treaties (or treaty – making), but rather involves it in the implementation (or domestication) of treaties. Ratification is the process by which a State (in this case Nigeria) establishes in the international plane its consent to be bound by a treaty (See article 1 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties 1969).

While the implementation (or domestication) is the process by which a treaty validly entered into by a State is enacted (or domesticated) as legislation so it can have effect within the domestic plane. Section 12 applies to the implementation (or domestication) of treaties and states that:

“No treaty between the Federation and any other country shall have the force of law except to the extent to which any such treaty has been enacted into law by the National Assembly”.

The side explanatory note of section 12, along with item 31 of the Exclusive Legislative List, makes it clear that the National Assembly’s legislative role is important to the implementation of treaties.

Another scenario is that the said Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties as contained in Article 46(1) where it states: – “A State may not invoke the fact its consent to be bound by a treaty has been expressed in violation of a provision of its internal law regarding competence to conclude treaties as invalidating its consent unless that violation was manifest and concerned a rule of its internal law of fundamental importance.”

Article 46 (2) further presented some clarifications to the above provisions: – “A violation is manifest if it would be objectively evident to any State conducting itself in the matter in accordance with normal practice and in good faith.”

These provisions of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties equally present Nigeria with an option to challenge a violation of its internal procedures for legitimising treaties/agreement which the Green Tree Agreement of 2006 did not observed. Under the Nigerian Constitution the Treaty cannot apply, except and unless and only to the extent that such a treaty has been transformed into the Nigerian law.

Since the Treaty has not been approved by the (Nigerian) National Assembly for the domestication, Nigeria cannot carry out the provisions of that Agreement. The treaty ought to have been transformed into Nigerian law before the Nigerian government implements it. That is why the residents of Bakassi feel aggrieved that the necessary measures had not been taken before their territory was transferred to a foreign country.

Several reports have noted with dismay the level of neglect, abandonment and inexplicable maltreatment of the indigenous people of Bakassi after ceding their land to Cameroon by the Nigerian Government under the so called Green Tree Agreement (GTA) signed by the Olusegun Obasanjo Administration on June 12, 2006 in New York.

Conclusion

Despite the fact that Nigerian government has accepted the fait accompli of the loss of the territory, there are still two options open to Nigerian Government to explore:

The first option is to present to United Nations to avail the window that will allow the people of Bakassi to carry out a referendum and decide for themselves where they want to belong in conformity with international law and all principles of Rights to self-determination. There is need for the Nigerian Government to repudiate the Green Tree Agreement and reclaim the Bakassi Peninsular. Or better still; the ICJ decision ceding Bakassi to Cameroon should be reversed. Not until the people of Bakassi are accorded the necessary opportunity to exercise their right of self-determination, the ICJ ruling on Bakassi, will remain unfair, unjust, cruel and a gallant rape on the rights and destiny of Bakassi people.

The Second option According to Professor Akin Oyebode, a professor of International Law and Diplomacy Unilag during the 2nd Year Anniversary Lecture of CrossRiverWatch at the Transcorp Hotel in Calabar on August, 27 2014., said “The Nigerian government can make a monetary offer to Cameroon in a bid to re-purchase the peninsula, a situation that is not without precedence in history”.

Bakassi should be revisited because it is about the people and not so much about oil. Unfortunately, it is oil that is much talked about. But the people are very important.

It is also to be pointed out clearly that there is no way Cameroun can utilise the Bakassi resources without taking Nigeria and Nigerians’ interest into account. Because, if they want to lay claim to the continental shelf under the law of the sea, their claim would have to overlap the claim of Nigeria because looking at the geography, at the map of Cameroon, their shelf locked as it is in international law; they don’t have enough room to utilise or to lay claim to 200 nautical miles, which international law grants to them.

This is because Nigeria too has a claim of 200 miles, so there is going to be a conflict. Therefore, Nigeria might propose to them to engage in ‘unitisation or joint development zone’ for the exploitation of the resources. And bring them within the arrangement that we have established with country like Equatorial Guinea and Sao Tome and Principe under which Nigeria and say Equatorial Guinea and Sao Tome and Principe will jointly exploit the resources and the proceeds are shared on 60:40 ratios. In other words, this is how to protect the interest of Nigerians and at the same time allow Cameroon to benefit from the resources endowed on the territory.

Advise to the National Assembly

I am also using this opportunity to advocate for the section 12 of the Nigerian Constitution to be immediately amended without any delay, to incorporate a role for the National Assembly (preferably the Senate) in the ratification process of treaty in a manner similar to what is obtainable in the USA and Ghana.

However, until such amendment is made to the Constitution, the fact remains that the executive, through the President, will continue to unilaterally make and ratify treaties without the input of the National Assembly. As this amendment will futuristically act as a check and balance in avoiding similar erroneous controversial situation of the green tree agreement.

Adeniyi, a public affairs analyst holds a master degree in International Law and Diplomacy. He can be reached via: infotecinv@gmail.com, debscom@yahoo.com.

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August 5, 2015
No going back on Bakassi ruling, says Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday declared that Nigeria as an abiding nation has to live with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling ceeding the oil-rich Bakassi penisular to Cameroon.

He made the remark during the interactive session with Nigerians residing in Cameroon.

Some of them complained that they are still being treated as aliens in Cameroon since the ICJ’s ruling.

“Since Nigeria allowed the case to go to court and we lost, we have to abide by it,” he said, assuring the 4 million Nigerians residing in Cameroon of Nigeria’s commitment to continue to boost their welfare and safety in the country.

He also maintained that Nigeria’s future is very bright despite the economic down turn.

He said: “Fellow Compatriots permit me to say, as I have done during my inauguration on 29th May 2015, I am committed towards bringing positive change to Nigeria and I will do everything possible to achieve that. Despite the numerous challenges confronting us, the future of our country is very bright.

“You all know very well that your fellow Nigerians are resilient, hardworking and patriotic. These qualities have always seen us through our most difficult national challenges and they will do so now.

“However, this government’s job is to see that we unite and work together for the common good of our country.

“The recent economic downturn occasioned by the fall in oil prices at the global market, which drastically affects our national revenue, is a serious cause of concern to us.”

He said adequate measures will be put in place to minimize the shock of the down turn on the Nigeria economy through diversification of the economy.

“As a responsible government, we intend to continue to build a stable economy through prudent fiscal policies and providing favorable environment for both domestic and foreign investments. The aim is to guarantee growth and development in all the sectors of our economy, cut waste, ensures fairness and equal opportunities,” he said.

According to him, his administration has taken it upon itself to fight corruption before it kills Nigeria.

President Buhari also assured that the current security challenges confronting Nigeria will soon be a thing of the past.

“We are determined to end this callousness against our innocent citizens. The defense of the territorial integrity of Nigeria and the protection of lives and properties of Nigerians and all those who live in the country are our top priorities. We shall explore all reasonable options to enable us to bring this rebellion to an end,” he said

Continuing, he said: “We are also working with all our neighbors, Cameroon inclusive and other friendly countries, so that together we can fight and stand firmly against all forms of terror and trans-border crimes.

“Whereas, many successes have been recorded in routing the insurgents and limiting their activities, the war is not over yet.” He noted

He advised the gathering to be patient and vigilant in order to ensure that youths are not misguided into joining the misguided terrorists groups.

“We must also support our gallant security and military personnel as they fight to defend our country.” He said

Stressing that Nigeria’s relation with Cameroon is one of the closest in the sub-region, he said that the Federal government of Nigeria places prime importance to the political, socio-economic and security cooperation between the two countries.

He said: “That is why we maintain these high level contacts with the government here and the reason why I am here. Nigeria and Cameroon share so much in common and the potential exists for even greater cooperation between our two countries.

“I am delighted to hear of the peaceful relations that exist between you and your Cameroonian hosts. I am very proud of our Nigerian Diaspora; wherever I go I meet extraordinary Nigerians doing great things and contributing positively to developments of their host countries.

“I urge you to continue to project the image of our dear country well, through your hard work and good conduct in order to promote good neighborliness.

“I also urge you to continue to respect the laws and customs and policies of your host country. I urge you to continue to live in peace with your brother and sister Cameroonians,” he stated.

Speaking earlier, one of the representatives of Nigerians residing in Cameroon, Paul Okocha said that Nigerian companies in Cameroon are playing major roles in the Cameroonian economy.

He urged the President to give priority attention to completion of motorable road between Cameroon and Nigeria to boost trade between them.

Another resident, Ebere Valentine while congratulating the President for winning the 2015 Presidential election, he was optimistic that Nigeria’s long dream of becoming true giant of Africa will come to pass under Buhari’s administration.

“Your footprints have manifested in Nigeria and beyond since you became the President of Nigeria,” he stated

July 29, 2015
Ayade slams UN, FG for ceding Bakassi
- No amount of dollars can assuage us, says Gov
Cross River State Governor, Senator Ben Ayade on Friday chided the United Nations and the Federal Government for ceding the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsular to the Republic of Cameroon without seeking the consent of the people through a plebiscite.

Ayade, who stated this while receiving the Country Representative of United Nations High Commission for Refugees, Mrs. Angele Dikongue Atangana, in his office in Calabar, said the people of the state were still angry over the ceding of the peninsular.

He said the ceding of the peninsular was done without a plebiscite, thus unjustly depriving the people of their ancestral home and turning them into refugees in their own land.

The governor, who struggled with his emotions, said: “Your Commission is undertaking a worthy and noble cause. I thank you for your humanitarian assistance and expression of emotion, but the people are angry in the way and manner they have been treated. They have been deprived of their heritage and livelihood.”

Speaking further, the governor said: “The people of Bakassi were not given the opportunity to choose where they would want to belong and I am telling the UN that this is an unsettled issue and no amount of dollars can settle the issue.

“ The people have now been split between Cross River and Akwa Ibom states, as well as Nigeria and Cameroon. As the agony of the people continues, their plight cannot be wiped away by dollars.

“Take it that the people feel very disturbed and unhappy, and if this had happened in any other part of the world, there would have been war today. This is totally unacceptable and is not done in the modern society. Today, Cross River is traversed by internally displaced persons, who are refugees in their own state.”

Continuing, the governor said. “the displaced people of Bakassi are suffering and if United Nations had anything in mind, it should have started from there and if anything needed to be treated as an emergency, it is the Bakassi, because the people live in such sub-human condition. The state will work hard to strengthen things and we will partner the commission to achieve its aims.”

Earlier, Angele Dikongue Atangana, commended the state for accommodating refugees from Cameroon, and said the commission was touched by the plight of the displaced persons of Bakassi, adding that while everything is being done to ensure the resettling of the Cameroonians in their country of origin, the commission would collaborate with the state to make life comfortable for the people of Bakassi who are internally displaced in the state.

Atangana explained that the commission spent about $200,000 in the first half of 2013, adding that it has worked out modalities to introduce vocational training for the people with the assistance of development partners as a means of giving them a sense of livelihood, saying that they should not be seen as stateless people but be recognized as citizens or nationals of Nigeria who are rightly settled in their motherland.
July 18, 2015
Janelia donates music fund to fan

NIGERIAN-AMERICAN singer Janelia has announced that she will be donating part of the digital download sales from her latest song, Bakassi, to a fan who is in dare need.

The singer, who just returned to the United States after a eight months of music and promotional tour in Nigeria for the new Afro pop single, noted that the beneficiary, Kelechi Uhegwu, who she met during her last visit needs fund to have a corrective spinal surgery immediately.

“Kelechi is a friend I met while in Nigeria and someone who has greatly inspired me. She is an alumna of University of Lagos. She is diagnosed with paralytic scoliosis and needs funds to have corrective spinal surgery immediately because her curved spine is resting on her organs and poses a great danger to her health. Her health insurance will not cover this surgery. You can help by downloading “Bakassi” on iTunes,” she said.

The singer is said to be working on her new album in Washington, DC, U.S., which is billed to be released in the spring of 2015. She has also released a Youtube video clip from Kelechi’s benefit concert.

December 28, 2014
Free health services for Bakassi residents

Over 1,000 residents of Bakassi Local Government Area in Cross River were beneficiaries free healthcare services of the National Association of Seadogs (NAS).

The president of NAS, Mr Ide Owodiong-Idemeko, said that the free healthcare services were part of the association’s humanitarian service to the people.

“We are doing this project to help ameliorate the health challenges of those who cannot afford better healthcare services, due to financial problems.

“We are rendering free healthcare services to pregnant women, those with dental problems, HIV/AIDS counselling, free distribution of insecticide mosquito nets and free drugs to members of the community with peculiar problems.

“This healthcare services we are rendering today, costs the association N20million, we are happy because it is a humanitarian service to the people,” he said.

Dr Kenneth Okoro, Head of Medical Services of NAS, said that the association carries out free medical services every year in remote areas that have no access to better healthcare service.

Okoro expressed satisfaction with the high turnout of residents in the community, adding that their medical mission was to help in ameliorating the health challenges of the people.

“We have identified that Malaria in Bakassi Local Government Area is very prevalent due to the rivers around, and children are the most affected, and we will de-worm them accordingly.

“Malnutrition is also a challenge here, we are here with our full medical team to do our best,” he said.

According to him, most of the residents do not undergo medical test as of when due, adding that there should always check their blood sugar level, cholesterol and HIV status every three months.

“The eyeglasses we brought for those with sight problems were donated to us by our branch in Japan, and our eye care doctors are attending to them accordingly.”

One of the beneficiaries, Mr Eteng Okon, who received free eyeglasses for his sight problem, said that he was impressed with the free health care services provided by NAS.

Okon said that there were few health centres in the community, adding that most residents could not afford the cost of health services because majority of them were farmers.

He thanked NAS for the humanitarian service, saying that it would go a long way in improving the health condition of the people.

February 7, 2014
What hope for Bakassi returnees?

IT is a New Year and that time of the year when people look forward to new things. People even go to the extent of writing goals for the New Year. Some also make resolution about what they did last year that they would love to stop this year. Many who smoke make a resolution to stop. Others who engage in adultery vow to turn a new leaf.

For the people of Bakassi, who are holed up in camps in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, if given the opportunity, will most likely wish that their woes of last year perish with the year.

If they had been given the opportunity to talk about what they would love to see in 2014, not a few would say they wanted an end to their stay in camps, where water is never enough, where food is rationed, where children cannot freely play like kids and where life is anything but exciting.

Their woes began when Nigeria lost the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroun as a result of a judgment of the International Court of Justice in the Hagues. For no less than a decade, the two countries battled for the control of the region. Lives were lost. Soldiers of both countries fought relentlessly. Then at a point, the International Court of Justice took over. It was a tortous journey to where we are today. In the court’s wisdom, the oil-rich Peninsula is Cameroun’s. It meant nothing that the people who populated it were Nigerians in deed and character. By the Nigerian Constitution, the area belonged to Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River State and till date, the constitution still recognises it as such.

Since the verdict, things have fallen apart for the people. The Federal Government promised that they would properly be reintegrated. They were promised homes. To be fair, a couple of building projects were started around Calabar, which were planned to be their homes. But as we write, they still live in camps. Reports say some of the building projects have been abandoned and weeds have taken over them. Instead of serving as homes for human beings, reptiles of all kinds have found free shelter and it promises to be a tough battle to take over the place from them!

Last May, rainstorm even sacked some of them camping at the Akwa Ikot. The windstorm blew off the roof of the St Mark’s Primary School, which has been their home since last March. They were exposed to harsh weather, with their personal effects damaged. And life was unbearable.

Last April, the Cross River State government accused the Camerounian government of not honouring the Green Tree Agreement (GTA), which provided that no occupant of the peninsula would be forcefully evicted. It also urged the Federal Government to expedite action on the permanent resettlement of the returnees, which, it said, was beyond its capability.

Some 1,000 people are affected by this sorry situation. The Bakassi people deserve better than they are getting from both the federal and state governments. It was no fault of theirs that the country lost the peninsula to Cameroun. It is no fault of theirs that the governments have not got their act right.

The country had enough time to prepare for the resettelemnt of the returnees. There is no excuse for what is happening now and the painful thing is that the Dr. Goodluck Jonathan administration has said nothing about the plight of these people. It seems it means nothing to the government that kids who are supposed to be in school are not in school because they have not been properly settled. It also seems it means nothing to the government that the future of the youth there is being mortgaged and there is danger in that for the government and for the society as a whole. If we do not train our youth to be useful, we are invariably training them to be terrors and we will all be the the casualties.

January 3, 2014
Groups urge speedy resettlement of Bakassi returnees

As a result of lack of seriousness on the part of the Federal Government over proper re-settlement of the displaced people of the ceded Bakassi Peninsula, several groups have appealed that something should be urgently done about the situation.

Ani Esin, Eneyo Eyo, Maurice Ekong, Ekeng Effiom Ekeng and Emmanuel Edet who are leaders of Bakassi Union, Association of Dayspring Landlords, Save Bakassi Group, Bakassi Indigenous Contractors and Business Forum and the Niger Delta Youths Movement respectively said in a joint statement that they had to join forces following unresolved issues about the ceded peninsula.

They also called for payment of compensation to the people of Ikang in Akpabuyo Local Government Area whose environment has become Bakassi Local Government Area.

Other issues they raised included the unpublished report of the Cobham Committee on the resettlement, unresolved and complicated issues about the maritime boundaries and the citizenship of Bakassi indigenes abandoned in the Republic of Cameroon.

They, however, praised President Goodluck Jonathan and the Cross River State governor, Liyel Imoke for nominating their son, Senator Bassey Ewa Henshaw as chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

This, they said, had rekindled their faith and hope in the country and their situation.

December 20, 2013