C-RIVER LOSES N60BN OVER CEDED BAKASSI PENINSULA TO CAMEROON

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru
Calabar - Cross River State Government has lost over N60 billion as a result of its loss of the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsula which was ceded to the Republic of Cameroon following the International Court of Justice judgement against Nigeria over the ownership of the island in 2002.

Chairman of Bakassi Local Government Area, Dr. Ekpo Bassey who disclosed this on Sunday when the United Nations/National Boundary Commission Needs Assessment team visited the area said that since Nigeria surrendered its sovereignty of Bakassi to Cameroon, the state has been carrying the burden of resettling the displaced people alone.

Bassey however, appealed to the UN to intervene in health, education, economic empowerment, payment of compensation for property, farm estate forfeited by Cameroon, as well as on improved security for the area to ameliorate the sufferings the people.

He also urged the UN to provide infrastructural support to the Bakassi people by constructing a road from Ifiang/ Natunda with a bridge to link Bakassi with Archibong town, now in Cameroon.