….Warns of territorial loss to Cameroon
By Lubem Gena, Abuja
The Coalition for the Protection of Democracy in Nigeria (CPDN) has accused officials of the National Boundary Commission (NBC) of manipulating Nigeria’s administrative maps in a manner that threatens the country’s territorial integrity and undermines Cross River State’s economic interests.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, Dr. Gabriel Nwambu, on behalf of the coalition, described the alleged actions as “administrative treason,” claiming that Nigeria’s internal and international maritime boundaries were altered between 2004 and 2008 through what he termed clandestine distortions of the 10th Edition Administrative Map of Nigeria.
According to Nwambu, the map—considered a legal reference for Nigeria’s boundaries—was modified multiple times without the knowledge or consent of Cross River State, allegedly through collusion between vested interests in Akwa Ibom State and senior officials of the NBC.
The coalition said the alterations effectively restricted Cross River’s access to the Atlantic through the Calabar Basin and diverted more than 76 oil wells historically associated with the state to Akwa Ibom.
They further warned that the consequences of the alleged distortions extend beyond domestic disputes. Nwambu claimed that the adjusted coordinates could shift Nigeria’s international maritime frontier, potentially resulting in the loss of about 780 hectares of territorial waters and at least 28 oil wells to the Republic of Cameroon, independent of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling on the Bakassi Peninsula.
The coalition also raised environmental concerns, warning that Cross River could suffer significant ecological damage from oil exploration activities without benefiting from derivation revenue. Nwambu likened the situation to the environmental challenges faced in Ogoniland, cautioning that Cross River could become a “new Ogoni land” if the issue is not addressed.
CPDN issued a series of demands to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, including the immediate demarcation and realignment of Nigeria’s maritime boundaries in line with the ICJ judgment and the Green Tree Agreement, recovery of disputed maritime areas and oil wells, and the arrest and prosecution of current and former NBC officials allegedly involved in the map distortions.
The group also called for the nullification of the 2008 dichotomy map, reinstatement of the original 10th Edition coordinates recognizing Cross River as a littoral state, and the reconstitution of the RAFTAC inter-agency committee to ensure equitable representation.
It therefore urged the federal government to halt any internal demarcation that could result in further territorial losses to Cameroon.
Concluding the briefing, the coalition gave the federal government a 14-day ultimatum to address its concerns, threatening sustained civil action if the demands are not met.
It emphasized that Nigeria’s territorial boundaries must be protected as a matter of national sovereignty and security.
