NEW YORK - The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to international peace and security with its recent adherence to the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over Bakassi Peninsula as a Cameroonian territory.

Mr. Abdullahi Yola, Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice said this at the ongoing 63rd UN General Assembly debate on the Nationality of Natural Persons in Relation to the Succession of States in New York .

“We believe that the government and people of Nigeria should be lauded for this unprecedented achievement manifested through the choice to adhere to the ruling of the ICJ, therewith underscoring our deep and unalloyed commitment to international peace and security,” he said.
Yola said both Nigeria and Cameroun had demonstrated that in situations of state succession, the status of natural persons, the interest of the people, especially in relation to their right to a nationality were paramount.

He added that both countries understood that the status must be protected within the context of international law and international humanitarian law.

“The transfer of the Bakassi Peninsula which was completed on August 14, 2008 was conducted with the full appreciation of the right of each inhabitant to either retain his or her Nigerian citizenship with the full rights as a foreigner living in Cameroun,” he said.

Yola said the people were also given the option of acquiring Camerounian citizenship in consequences of the recognition of the Bakassi Peninsula as a Camerounian territory,’’ he added.

Yola called on all states to emulate Nigeria ‘s example.