President Goodluck Jonathan said his administration considered the interest of Nigerians living in Cameroon in taking the decision not to appeal the International Court of Justice, ICJ, judgement on the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsula.
The ICJ had in its judgement on the ownership of Bakassi in 2002 ruled in favour of Cameroon with Nigeria having the opportunity to appeal the judgement till October last year but the Federal Government decided not to challenge the judgement.
Speaking at an interactive session with the Nigerian community in Yaoundé on Sunday night, Jonathan explained that Nigeria had no new evidence within the period of time that was given that would make a difference in the judgement.
The President is in Cameroon for the summit of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of Central African States, ECCAS, the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, and the Gulf of Guinea Commission, GGC, with a focus on maritime safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea. Jonathan explained that at that time "there was tension between Nigeria and Cameroon and people reacted.
When two countries are friends, the people also tend to be friends but when they disagree their citizens tend to disagree also. "You all know what happened in Bakassi, there is no need to go back on why we could not appeal. We had no new evidence within the period of time that was given that will make a difference in the judgement. "Our people should live a good and decent life in Cameroon.
The forces of animosity are gradually dying down and the relationship is improving". The President assured Nigerians in Cameroon that his government was totally committed to their welfare, adding that their concerns bothering on high cost of resident permits, high cost of tuition fees for students among others would be discussed with President Paul Biya for amicable solution.
He also said that his government was addressing the issue of security, power, infrastructural deficits, stressing that his administration had made significant impact in key sectors of the economy in the last two years.
Jonathan urged Nigerians in the Diaspora to ignore negative reports exaggerating the problems back home, but should take time out to look at the Gross Domestic Product, GDP, growth, foreign direct investments, which indicated that the economy was strong. Nigerian High Commissioner to Cameroon, Hadiza Mustapha, in her remarks, said the good relationship existing between both countries had brought about reduction in harassment of Nigerians living in that country.
National Mirror