The Cross River State government has denied reports that Cameroun is about to take over the Obudu Mountain Resort owned by the government and people of Cross.

Director general of the Cross River Border Development Commission, Leo Aggrey recently warned that there was a need by the Nigerian government to counter the expansionist moves of Cameroon, which he said have started making incursion into Nigeria’s border communities.

He said information reaching his office from the affected communities and even beyond shows that the Cameroonian government was already reaching out to its external allies to curry their support in this fresh onslaught on Nigeria and called for immediate intervention by the federal government.

But convinced that the Obudu Ranch Resort, in Obanliku Local Government Area is within Nigeria, Mr Agrrey described any claim to the ranch which Cameroon might be nursing as an empty threat.

In statement released at the weekend, Patrick Ugbe, the spokesperson to the state governor, Liyel Imoke said reports of a Camerounian takeover of the resort was meant to cause disaffection in the state.

“These are not only malicious, but a well articulated attempt from yet to be ascertained quarters to undermine the tourism initiatives of the state government, incite the passions of the indigenes of the state, including the host community of the Obudu Mountain Resort, and generally cause disaffection and instability in the state,” Mr Ugbe said.

He said the relevant sector of the Nigeria-Cameroon International boundary has been well defined by the Anglo-German Agreement of 1913 and other legal instruments, which were upheld by the judgment of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) of 10th October, 2002.

“Following the judgment, the sector was traced and physically confirmed by the Nigeria-Cameroon Joint Technical Team (JTT), which comprises of technical experts from Nigeria and Cameroon as well as the United Nations in November/December last year,” he said. “The delineation of the boundary line on satellite images map covering the whole boundary length made by the JTT, using the Agreement, does not put the Obudu Cattle Ranch or any of its part in the Republic of Cameroon. Also, during the field tracing, the Ranch was found to be entirely in Nigeria territory. We submit further that though the Obudu mountain range stretches from Nigeria into Cameroon, the portion of this range in Nigeria is what constitutes the Obudu Cattle Ranch.” Standing firm

The Obudu Mountain Resort is one of the prime tourism and hospitality assets owned of Cross River State. The state government has, from 2004-2007, upgraded facilities at the resort, including the construction of an International Conference Centre, as one of several initiatives to bring it to the mainstream of the global tourism circuit.

In 2008, the government placed the Resort under the management of African Sun.

“It should be noted that Cross River State is still reeling in all ramifications from the ceding of Bakassi to the Republic of Cameroun,” Mr Ugbe said. “The government and people of the State frown seriously at this rumour, and call on those behind it to desist from such unwholesome acts.For the avoidance of doubt, the government and people of the state stand ready to resist with all its might any attempt to cede any of its territory to any country or state in Nigeria.”

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