The new Chairman of the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission, General Lamine Cisse, has expressed optimism that the completion process of the withdrawal and transfer of authority commenced in 2006 would be finalised this year.

Lamine was speaking during the 21st session at the Yaounde Hilton Hotel, five months after the last Mixed Commission met in Abuja.He said he is banking on the trust and commitment made by Nigeria and Cameroon for the final stage of the implementation of the October 10, 2002 ICJ ruling.

It would be recalled that the withdrawal and transfer of authority which started in 2006, had had moments of interruptions due to disagreements between the parties.Lamine, evaluating the land boundary demarcation so far, said the Joint Technical Team has demarcated 830 km, with 135 km covered in ten days in spite of difficulties of access to the field.

He said the funds contributed have enabled the establishment of a geodetic datum network vital for preliminary monumental activities. He recalled the agreement to build a single border control post on the Cameroon-Bamenda-Enugu-Nigerian corridor in a bid to facilitate transit.

He said this would be built within the rehabilitation of the trans-boundary road with funds from the Africa Development Bank, ADB.Prince Bola Adjibola, Head of the Nigeria Delegation in Cameroon-Nigerian Mixed Commission, while stating that activities are underway in the new settlements for Nigerian inhabitants formerly living in Bakassi, urged the international community to donate generously towards the sustenance of basic human rights of the settlers as envisaged in the ICJ judgement.

He equally requested for additional financial support for the implementation and completion of the demarcation exercise.At the end of the session, the parties agreed to the delineation of the loxodrome extending from point X seaward, thus ending the implementation of the ICJ I respect of the maritime boundary.

The Commission approved the field assessment programme for Phase C covering 245 km to be undertaken from April 22 to mid-June 2008. An observer mission and follow-up committee would conduct a seventh visit to the Bakassi Peninsula.

The 12th forthcoming Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Governments of member states of the Lake Chad Basin Commission was scheduled for March, 2008 in Abuja, while the 22nd session of the Mixed Commission was slated for June 19-20 in Abuja.