LETTER FROM FEDERAL MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS ON BAKASSI

Note No. 570
27th March, 1962

 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Commonwealth Relations presents its complements to the Embassy of the Cameroun Republic and with reference to the three copies of the map of the Cross River estuary attached herewith has the honour to state that the map shows a part of Southern Nigeria and West Cameroon (formerly the Southern Cameroons), and that the continental shelf blocks "L", "M", and "N", were drawn in 1959 with the intention of offering them, on payment of premia, as prospecting Licences to be taken up by companies interested in oil production.

 The blocks "L" and "M" were granted, consequently, to Mobil Exploration Company on 30th September, 1961, as Oil Exploration Licenses and the portion of Block "N" which is now off shore the Cameroun Republic reverted to the West Cameroon (Southern Cameroons).  It would appear, however, that part of block "N" is rightly within Nigeria's jurisdiction.  As shown on the map the boundary follows the lower courses of the Akpa-Yafe river, where there appears to be no uncertainty, and then out into the Cross River estuary.  The Nigerian Federal Surveys have drawn an arbitrary line from point "A" to point "B” which is considered to be the correct boundary.

 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be grateful if the Embassy of the Cameroun Republic will refer this matter to the Government of the Cameroun Republic with a view to examining the points raised above so that an early agreement can be reached about the wedged shaped area which is coloured red in the maps and which is hereby claimed to be part of the Federation of Nigeria.

 The Embassy of the Cameroun Republic
11-15 Williams Street, Lagos

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[FORWARDED BY DR. NOWA OMOIGUI]

NOTE:  In paragraph 2, "As shown on the map the boundary follows the lower courses of the Akpa-Yafe river, where there appears to be no uncertainty, and then out into the Cross River estuary".  (ITALICS MINE)

Source:   Diplomatic Note 570 of 1962.  Quoted in a forthcoming Book titled "The Bakassi Story", by Dr. Nowa Omoigui