Nigeria is set to lose 24 local governments to the United Nations by July 10 due to a joint agreement signed with Paul Biya of Cameroon and former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
According to a report by the Guardian, the LGAs were ceded to Cameroon in 2013 and would form part of a new State being formed by the United Nations on the border of the Republic of Cameroon.
The move is seen as a timely intervention in the agitation of Southern Cameroon for their own country; Ambazonia.
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The recent withdrawal of Cameroonian troops from the territories set the stage for the creation of a United Nations Organisation State of Cameroon as demanded in a May 20, letter to Prof. Martins Atteh, the UN appointed workshop coordinator for Nigeria and Cameroon by the former president of the UN General Assembly, Ali. A. Treki.
Excerpts from the letter read;
“Greetings and thank you very much for the attached list of those who were detained in the Nkambe prison of Cameroon in August 2008.
“It is only now that the soldiers of la Republique du Cameroun are being withdrawn from the southern part of UNO State of Cameroon.”
“It is only now that the soldiers of la Republique du Cameroun are being withdrawn from the southern part of UNO State of Cameroon.
“I should be getting back to you once the United Nations finishes with an official announcement on the existence of UNO State of Cameroon to the international community.”
Reports stated that former Secretary General of the UN, Kofi Annan convinced former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Paul Biya to cede parts of their territories for the creation of a new country in West/Central Africa.
The actualisation of the state was projected for July 10, 2020.
Consequently, Nigeria is set to lose five local government areas in Borno, 12 in Adamawa, and seven in Taraba to the new Southern Cameroon State.
The landmass of the new country is expected to stretch from Bakassi in Cross Rivers, to Ngala local government near the Lake Chad region in Borno state.
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State released a statement regarding the potential loss of five local government areas in the state to the United Nations.
“We’ll study the recent unfolding developments on ceding Bama, Gwoza, Dikwa, Kala/Balge and Ngala councils to the UNO State of Cameroon.
“The state government will also be liaising with federal agencies on how to cede the affected local government areas as Obasanjo and Biya had signed documents with the UN to respect their international boundaries.” he said.
The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres has commenced sensitisation for the new UN State created for separatists in Southern Cameroon.
He also urged the Nigerian government to carry out an investigation to establish the facts surrounding the ceding of 24 local government areas to the United Nations.