The 1913 Treaty, The ICJ Mandate & The Line Misread

Legal Process, Demarcation Integrity & The Anatomy of a Near-Loss

How a Boundary Implementation Went Wrong
THE Federal Government has stopped plans to cede over 10,000 hectares of land to Cameroon, citing improper boundary demarcation that contradicted historic colonial markers. The disclosure was made by Rep. Victor Abang during a constituency briefing in Keyang II, Boki LGA, Cross River State.

The Legal Foundation
The controversy stems from the 2002 ICJ ruling which instructed that the Nigeria–Cameroon border align with the 1913 Anglo-German Treaty. The treaty, drawn in colonial times, contains fixed reference points that both nations were expected to respect during modern demarcation.

The Procedural Breach
Abang alleged that the joint boundary implementation committee:

• Ignored colonial boundary features

• Attempted demarcation without validating Pillar 113A

• Failed to cross-reference treaty coordinates with ground pillars recognised by Nigerian communities

• Advanced boundary lines that would have transferred land in Boki, including sections of Biajua and Danare communities

Quantifying the Risk
Had the plan proceeded unreviewed, Nigeria would have lost:

• More than 10,000 hectares of territory

• Farming and settlement zones in Biajua and Danare

• Forest conservation land now targeted for economic development through national park reform

Legislative Action Triggered the Review
Abang filed a motion on 5 July 2023, prompting debate in the House of Representatives. The motion passed, leading to suspension of the demarcation pending technical review. The Federal Executive later halted the cession plan entirely.

Development Agenda Meets Territorial Integrity
In the same engagement, Abang highlighted policy and development interventions:

• Sponsorship of the National Park Service Amendment Bill

• Push to make the Okwangwo National Park Unit independent

• ₦300m investment in medical equipment

• Telecom masts linking 35 communities

• Mini stadium project to support youth development

A Border Lesson in Evidence and Ground Truth
The episode exposed systemic gaps in treaty implementation and demarcation process. It also revealed that borders, like evidence, require:

• Integrity

• Primary reference points

• Verifiable originals

• Process fidelity

Nigeria may have paused a land transfer. But more importantly, it launched a deeper national conversation: Who certifies the map, who validates the pillars, and who protects the ground truth?