Ex-NNPC director’s book sparks fresh calls to reclaim Bakassi

From left: Author, Efiong D. Akan, Chairman, Captain Augustine Okon, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, and Obong Nseghe Uraun and Chairman Baracuda Capital & Director Seplat Petroleum, Larry E. Ettah at the public presentation of Uruan: The Iboku People of the Geographical Southeastern Nigeria And Their Bakassi Economic Zone in Lagos...on Monday.

A new book by a former Group Executive Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Efiong Akan, has reignited discussions about the ownership and future of Bakassi, with prominent stakeholders calling for renewed efforts to reclaim the disputed territory. The debate resurfaced recently in Lagos during the public presentation of Akan’s book, titled, “Uruan: The Iboku People of the Geographical South Eastern Nigeria and Their Bakassi Economic Zone,” held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island. The event, which attracted scholars, business leaders, former public office holders and cultural enthusiasts, evolved beyond a book launch into a wider conversation on cultural identity, heritage preservation and the historical connection between the Uruan people and the Bakassi Peninsula. The Bakassi Peninsula is an oil-rich territory located in the Gulf of Guinea, extending into the Atlantic Ocean. Following a 2002 International Court of Justice ruling and the 2006 Greentree Agreement, sovereignty over the peninsula was transferred from Nigeria to Cameroon in 2008. In a statement obtained by our correspondent on Tuesday, Akan was quoted as saying that legal experts and leaders from Akwa Ibom State are urged to support efforts to reclaim Bakassi, describing the territory as an integral part of the Uruan people’s heritage. “There is a need for deliberate efforts to preserve the culture and traditions of the Uruan people and safeguard their ancestral territories. Related News It’s false to say military wrote 1999 constitution — Abdulsalami A’Ibom lawmaker empowers 61 constituents with N15.25m grants LG autonomy yielding tangible dividends – ALGON chair “This book is not merely about recounting the past. It is about preserving our identity, protecting our heritage and ensuring that future generations understand who we are and where we come from.” In his remark, the chairman of the occasion, Captain Augustine Otuekong, underscored the historical and geopolitical significance of the Uruan people, describing them as a strategic ethnic group within Akwa Ibom State with enduring contributions to state and national development. He noted that while Uruan’s proximity to Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capita