Nigeria Affirms it will Hand Oil-Rich Region to Cameroon

The Nigerian government has declared its commitment to hand over the oil-rich Bakassi peninsula to Cameroon on August 14 in accordance with a 2002 ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua released a statement, indicating that the two countries would carry out consultations to ensure a smooth transition during the handover. Doubts about Nigeria's commitment arose a few years ago when federal legislators accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of unilaterally agreeing to the transfer. [PE]