…Demands Immediate Probe
…FG Should Set Up Independent Panel to Investigate Akwa Ibom–Cross River Crisis – Prof. Sam Amadi
A coalition of 46 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) under the platform of the Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness (CCLCA) has called for the establishment of a Presidential Special Investigation Panel to examine the circumstances surrounding the loss of approximately 780 hectares of Nigerian maritime waters within the Cross River estuary.
Director General of CCLCA, Dr. Gabriel Nwambu, while reading the coalition’s recommendations in a communique in Abuja on Thursday, stated:
“The Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness, in strategic collaboration with 12 frontline rights organizations and following a rigorous, expert-led fact-finding mission into the maritime boundaries of the Gulf of Guinea and the delineations between Nigeria and Cameroon, has uncovered critical data regarding the ownership status between Cross River State and Akwa Ibom State.”
He added: “This dialogue brings together 46 Civil Society Organizations to deliberate on these findings and propose a sustainable roadmap for regional peace and administrative clarity.”
Based on their findings, the coalition made the following recommendations to President Bola Tinubu:
Immediate Presidential review of the 2024 and 2025 Inter-Agency Committee Reports on oil well verification and derivation allocation affecting Cross River and Akwa Ibom States.
Immediate Presidential directive for the proper demarcation of the Nigeria–Cameroon maritime boundary within the Cross River maritime corridor in accordance with the 2002 ICJ judgment map.
Establishment of a Presidential Special Investigation Panel to examine the circumstances surrounding the loss of approximately 780 hectares of Nigerian maritime waters within the Cross River estuary.
Immediate forensic audit of all revenues and derivation payments relating to the Ekanga and Zafiro transboundary oil fields.
Investigation into the alleged unilateral approval of ₦33 billion in payments from the Federation Account without Presidential authorization.
Urgent diplomatic engagement with Cameroon for the negotiation of transboundary reservoir development agreements for the 49 identified reservoir continuity wells within OML 114.
Restoration and recognition of Cross River State’s littoral status based on the geographic and legal status of the Cross River.
In his brief remarks, investigator Prof. Sam Amadi described the findings as “mind-boggling” and emphasized the urgent need for the Federal Government to establish an independent panel to probe the positions taken in the Cross River–Akwa Ibom border dispute.
He added: “Our findings revealed that Cross River is indeed a littoral state that has been grossly marginalized.”
If you want, I can also rewrite this as a punchy news article headline + lead paragraph format for media publication—it would make it even more concise and reader-friendly. Do you want me to do that?