House of Representatives Committee Halts Sina Area Demarcation Pending Dispute Resolution.
The House of Representatives ad hoc committee has intervened in the demarcation of the Sina area in Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa State, which had raised concerns regarding its boundary with the Republic of Cameroon. The committee, chaired by Hon. Beni Lar, issued a ruling to suspend the demarcation exercise until disputes over the area are resolved.
The hearing held by the committee focused on addressing lingering boundary disputes along the Nigeria-Cameroon boundaries and assessing the role of the military and security agencies in safeguarding the borders and territorial integrity of Nigeria.
Hon. Beni Lar emphasized the need for further engagement with the relevant communities and the boundary commission to find a resolution to the disputes. She stated, “Let us go on a fact-finding mission and then we will intervene. The communities have a right, and their right must be considered. This demarcation exercise has to be put on hold until the disputes are resolved.”
The committee, responsible for addressing similar boundary issues previously, decided to extend its scope to include the Sina area following a request by Hon. Dauda Nyampa. Hon. Lar also announced plans to conduct an on-the-spot fact-finding visit to Adamawa State to gather comprehensive information.
During the hearing, the Director General of the National Boundary Commission, Adamu Adaji, clarified that the demarcation exercise was conducted in accordance with a ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). He explained, “The Adamawa State sector of the boundary between Nigeria and Cameroon as decided by the International Court of Justice is based on treaties and agreements that had been entered into by colonial masters.”
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However, Adamu Kamale, the representative of the Sina area, argued that the disputed territory was part of Nigeria and had not been considered in the demarcation process. He pointed out differences in criteria used by the ICJ for various communities, emphasizing that Sina should be determined based on watershed considerations.
The committee, acknowledging the complexity of the issue, has requested the National Boundary Commission to suspend the ongoing demarcation exercise until all disputes are resolved. This decision aims to ensure a fair and comprehensive resolution to the boundary matters in the region.
Further updates on the Sina area demarcation and boundary disputes will be provided as the situation develops.
