The Cross River State Government has firmly stated that its renewed push for littoral status is not a bid to annex any part of neighbouring Akwa Ibom State but a lawful and scientifically grounded effort aimed at protecting national interest.

Speaking during a media briefing, the Special Adviser on Public Affairs to Governor Bassey Otu, Mr Nsa Gill, said the state’s position has been misunderstood and politicised in some quarters. He insisted that Cross River’s case rests on verifiable technical findings rather than political agitation.

Supreme Court Ruling and Maritime Reality

According to Mr Gill, while the 2012 judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria addressed the allocation of certain oil wells, it did not erase Cross River’s geographical identity or maritime relevance.

He pointed to the continued existence of Bakassi Local Government Area within the state, with its access to the Gulf of Guinea through the Cross River Estuary, as a central plank in the argument for littoral recognition.

Mr Gill also referenced the 2002 ruling of the International Court of Justice, which ceded parts of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon. He noted that the judgment did not transfer all portions of Bakassi and did not include the cession of oil wells to Cameroon.

“Akahi News gathered that the state government believes that if no oil wells were ceded internationally, then Cross River’s historic coastal entitlements deserve objective reassessment,” he said.

Bakassi Deep Seaport and Scientific Surveys

Providing insight into Governor Bassey Otu’s approach, Mr Gill disclosed that after reviewing the prospects of the Bakassi Deep Seaport project, the Governor authorised a comprehensive hydrographic, geophysical and geotechnical survey.

The contract, he explained, was awarded to the National Hydrographic Agency under the Nigerian Navy. The survey covered areas around Parrot and Tomshot Islands and generated detailed data on soil composition, water depth and navigational parameters required for a deep seaport.

According to Mr Gill, the findings were presented to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who subsequently approved funding for the Bakassi Deep Seaport through Afrexim Bank. The project is expected to be executed by Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms.

Beyond infrastructure, the survey reportedly produced an updated nautical chart now recognised in the World Hydrographic Chart. Officials say this strengthens Nigeria’s maritime mapping credentials, enhances revenue prospects from international shipping, and reinforces the strategic value of the Cross River Estuary.

Inter-Agency Verification and Oil Well Data

Following the presentation of the technical findings, President Tinubu approved the formation of an inter-agency technical committee for on-site verification.

The committee reportedly included representatives from Akwa Ibom State, led by its Surveyor-General, alongside the Surveyors-General of Cross River State and that of the Federation, as well as other relevant federal agencies.

During the field exercise, officials plotted 239 crude oil and gas wellheads using updated scientific base maps. Mr Gill noted that this figure significantly exceeds the 76 oil wells controversially allocated to Akwa Ibom State after the 2012 Supreme Court judgment — a process Cross River argues was implemented administratively without a comprehensive survey by the National Boundary Commission and the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission.

Akahi News learnt that the Cross River Government maintains that its position is rooted in empirical evidence rather than political rhetoric.

A Call for Cooperation, Not Conflict

Reaffirming the administration’s stance, Mr Gill stressed that Governor Otu remains committed to restoring the state’s littoral status and recovering associated revenues while sustaining peaceful and cooperative relations with Akwa Ibom State.

He expressed optimism that a fair and transparent resolution would foster regional prosperity, benefiting residents of both states and strengthening Nigeria’s maritime security architecture.

According to him, the issue transcends state rivalry and touches directly on Nigeria’s maritime future, especially regarding continental shelf claims and the strategic importance of the Cross River Estuary.

As debates continue, stakeholders across the Niger Delta and beyond will be watching closely to see how federal authorities balance legal precedents, scientific data and national cohesion in resolving the matter.

By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News
Joseph Iyaji is a journalist, educator, and founder of Akahi G. International, Akahi Tutors, and Akahi News.
Akahi News www.akahinews.org