Delisting of Bakassi, a Misguided Attempt to Undermine the People’s Progress – Group

A group, Bakassi peninsula Aborigines Communities have said that delisting of Bakassi from the 774 local Government Areas of Nigeria is a misguided attempt to undermine the progress of the people of Bakassi and the administration of Governor Bassey Otu

In a letter dated 1st February 2025 and signed by nineteen leaders of the Aborigine Communities of  Bakassi peninsula made up of councilors and some leaders of thought in the area, the group maintained that Bakassi is one of the 774 local government areas in Nigeria recognized by the 1999 constitution

The group lamented that a large portion of Bakassi peninsula was ceded to Cameroon in 2002 and as a result has drastically altered the region’s dynamics

They stressed that because of that the Government of cross river state through law no 7 of 2007 of the state adjusted the boundaries of Akpabuyo local government to accommodate the displaced people of Bakassi

“This misguided effort is not only an affront to the administration of Sen.

Bassey Otu but also a direct attack on the unity and progress of the people of Bakassi and cross river state as a whole”.

Recall that recently some group of people went on air in various media spaces to campaign for the delisting of Bakassi local Government from Nigeria. Because according to them since after that judgement of 2002 by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Bakassi seized to exist and where we have today’s Bakassi is Akpabuyo local government

In their address, the Aborigine Communities mentioned consequences of such move to include loss of representation; stating that the displaced people of Bakassi would lose their political identity and voice in governance

They also noted that the grievances outlined in the petition to delist Bakassi such as the demand for the development of Day spring and Kwa Island, land reclamation and shoreline protection are valid and deserve attention.