The Member representing Yakurr 1 in the Cross River State House of Assembly, Hon. Cyril James Omini, has called for urgent legislative collaboration to resolve the long-standing oil wells and maritime boundary dispute between Cross River and Akwa Ibom State.
In a detailed statement, Omini described the dispute as one of Nigeria’s most sensitive subnational conflicts, rooted in the aftermath of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling of 2002, which ceded parts of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon. He noted that while the judgment transferred the southern Bakassi axis, key areas within the western Bakassi islands remained under Nigeria’s sovereignty.
According to the lawmaker, territories such as Dayspring 1 and 2, Qua Island, and Western Abana, including the Cross River Estuary, were clearly retained by Nigeria. He emphasized that this distinction carries significant economic and geopolitical implications, particularly due to the strategic importance of the estuary as a maritime trade corridor in the Gulf of Guinea.
Omini, however, criticized the failure of relevant federal agencies, including the National Boundary Commission and the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation, to fully implement the ICJ ruling. He pointed to the 2008 boundary adjustment exercise, which he said deviated from the court’s Map No. 12 and instead redrew internal baselines within the western Bakassi region.
The exercise, he alleged, resulted in the reassignment of 76 oil wells from Cross River to Akwa Ibom State and failed to properly define Nigeria’s international maritime boundary. He further claimed that this led to the loss of approximately 780 hectares of maritime territory within the Cross River Estuary corridor.
The dispute has since escalated, with over 238 oil wells now reportedly under contention.
Despite the tensions, Omini stressed that the situation presents an opportunity for dialogue and cooperative resolution. He called on the Cross River and Akwa Ibom State Houses of Assembly, alongside members of the National Assembly, to prioritize a structured and equitable settlement.
He also highlighted the role of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, describing him as a key figure capable of facilitating meaningful dialogue, given his political ties to the old Cross River State. Omini further referenced former Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba as part of a pool of experienced stakeholders who could contribute to resolving the dispute.
The lawmaker noted that Bola Ahmed Tinubu has already advised both states to pursue an amicable resolution under the Senate President’s leadership, adding that several high-level meetings have been held.
He advocated for a “win-win” approach that would allow Akwa Ibom to retain its current oil assets while restoring Cross River’s status as an oil-producing state, which it lost following the 2008 adjustments.
Omini further underscored the shared economic and ecological ties between the two states, including common maritime routes, cultural linkages, and natural resources such as the Cross River Basin and the Atlantic coastline. He warned that prolonged delays in resolving the dispute could undermine peace and stability in the region.
Describing the situation as a test of leadership, Omini urged lawmakers at both state and federal levels to act decisively.
“This is a clarion call to transform a source of division into a model of intergovernmental cooperation,” he said, adding that a successful resolution would not only boost economic development but also leave a lasting legacy in Nigeria’s political history.
