IIARD International Institute of Academic Research and Development

JOURNAL OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AND LEADERSHIP RESEARCH (JPSLR )

E-ISSN 2504-883X
P-ISSN 2695 2432
VOL. 11 NO. 2 2025
DOI: 10.56201/jpslr.v11.no2.2025.pg78.91

---

Implications of the International Court of Justice Ruling on Nigeria- Cameroon Boundary Dispute

Mohammed, Murtala, Samuila, Tibwa Abwage, Zechariah, Wanujeh

---

Abstract

The resolution of the Nigeria-Cameroon boundary dispute by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) remains a contentious issue, particularly in the Bakassi Peninsula. The problem arises from lingering dissatisfaction among local communities, whose interests were inadequately addressed during the implementation of the court's ruling. This paper evaluated the implications of the ICJ ruling on the dispute, with a focus on its influence on stability and intergovernmental relations. A survey method was employed, utilizing a structured questionnaire administered to stakeholders, including residents, officials, and experts in the Bakassi Peninsula. Responses were analyzed using percentages, providing a quantitative basis for understanding perceptions and impacts. The study adopted the reality theory, emphasizing the necessity of practical, outcome-driven measures in resolving disputes, justified by its alignment with the socio-political complexities of boundary demarcation. Findings reveal that while the resolution provided a legal framework for addressing territorial disputes, it failed to ensure long-term stability due to inadequate measures for safeguarding local interests. This neglect has fueled discontent and adverse diplomatic consequences. The study recommends among others that to rebuild trust and enhance diplomatic relations, Nigeria and Cameroon should create a bilateral commission dedicated to addressing ongoing grievances and managing shared concerns along the boundary

keywords:

Territorial Disputes, ICJ Ruling, International Law, Boundary Resolution, Bakassi

---

References:

Achike, M. (2017). Sovereignty and local governance: A case study of the Bakassi Peninsula
dispute. Journal of African Politics, 32(2), 142-159.
Adams, R., & Olaoye, F. (2022). Community land conflicts and social harmony. Journal of
Conflict Studies, 39(2), 102-117.
Adeniyi, O. (2023). Border disputes and the limits of international law in Africa. Journal of African
Studies, 29(3), 245-260.
Adeola, A. (2023). Revisiting the Bakassi Peninsula Dispute: Legal, Social, and Political
Dimensions. African Journal of International Relations, 12(1), 45-67.
Agbor, M. (2010). The ICJ Judgment on the Bakassi Peninsula: Implications for Nigeria and
Cameroon. Journal of International Law, 29(2), 45-67.
Ajao, R., & Olatunji, J. (2019). The unresolved questions in the Bakassi conflict: A post-ICJ
assessment. International Journal of Border Studies, 41(3), 101-119.
Akinola, O. (2015). The role of the International Court of Justice in resolving territorial disputes:
A case study of the Nigeria-Cameroon boundary dispute. International Journal of Law and
Politics, 12(3), 145-167.
Asiyanbola, M. A. (2023). Land governance and boundary disputes in rural settings. International
Journal of Land Use Policy, 56(4), 276-289.
Bamidele, O. (2014). Nigeria and Cameroon: The Bakassi dispute and its diplomatic
consequences. African Studies Review, 20(2), 245-262.
Bokosi, K. (2018). Negotiating borders in post-colonial Africa: Cameroon and Nigeria in Bakassi.
African Journal of International Law, 27(4), 213-230.
Ebo, A. (2003). The Land and Maritime Boundary Dispute between Nigeria and Cameroon: Legal
and Political Implications. International Journal of African Studies, 12(4), 22-41.
Ekong, M. (2022). The socio-economic impact of the Bakassi handover on Nigerian border
communities. African Journal of International Relations, 15(4), 345-370.
Eze, C. (2019). Legal enforcement mechanisms of the ICJ ruling in the Nigeria-Cameroon dispute:
Challenges and implications. Journal of International Law, 18(4), 302-318.
Eze, I. (2011). Territorial Disputes and Economic Interests: The Bakassi Case. African Economic
Review, 14(3), 108-123.
Hansen, P. (2015). The ICJ’s ruling on the Bakassi Peninsula: A step towards stability? Review of
International Law, 29(1), 55-72.
International Law Editorial. (2024). Understanding Bilateral Relations: Key Dynamics and
Implications.
World
Juris
Prudence.
Retrieved
from
https://worldjurisprudence.com/bilateral-relations/
Ludwig, A. N. (2021). The Complexity of Bilateral Relations. E-International Relations. Retrieved
from https://www.e-ir.info/2021/03/25/the-complexity-of-bilateral-relations/
Mbaya, D. (2020). The Greentree Agreement and its aftermath: A diplomatic perspective. Global
Diplomacy Journal, 18(1), 68-83.
McDonald, S. (2010). The ICJ and territorial disputes: The Nigeria-Cameroon example.
International Law Review, 22(4), 98-112.
Mearsheimer, J. J. (2001). The tragedy of great power politics. W.W. Norton & Company.
Morgenthau, H. J. (1948). Politics among nations: The struggle for power and peace. Alfred A.
Knopf.
Ndi, B. (2016). Bakassi: Displacement, displacement, and new governance. African Migration
Studies, 14(2), 199-215.
Nguh, T. (2023). Socio-political dynamics of the ICJ ruling on Nigeria-Cameroon boundary
dispute. International Journal of Border Studies, 16(1), 45-63.
Nwankwo, I. (2020). The economic consequences of the ICJ ruling on Nigeria and Cameroon: A
regional integration perspective. African Economic Review, 25(2), 115-134.
Obong, T. (2021). Post-ICJ rulings: Resettlement policies and challenges in Nigeria. Journal of
Development Policy, 18(2), 127-143.
Ojo, S. (2021). The challenges of post-ICJ cooperation in the Bakassi Peninsula. Journal of African
Development, 23(4), 301-319.
Okeke, F., & Nwachukwu, J. (2017). Political consequences of the ICJ decision on Nigeria and
Cameroon: A critical analysis. Journal of International Relations, 14(2), 201-220.
Onu, A. (2017). International adjudication and local discontent: The case of the Nigeria-Cameroon
border dispute. African Political Studies, 39(5), 550-566.
Pannier, A. (2020). Bilateral Relations. In T. Balzacq, F. Charillon, & F. Ramel (Eds.), Global
Diplomacy (pp. 19–33). Palgrave Macmillan.
Turner, J. (2021). Boundary conflicts in urban development: Causes and solutions. Urban Studies
Review, 33(4), 342-358.
UNHCR (2005). Nigeria-Cameroon Border: Migration and Refugee Movements after the ICJ
Judgment. UNHCR Briefing Paper, 7(1), 34-56.
United Nations (2003). Report on the Situation in the Bakassi Peninsula. UN Security Council
Reports, 9(2), 15-18.
Usman, A. (2023). Legal solutions to territorial disputes: Lessons from the Nigeria-Cameroon
case. Global Perspectives on International Law, 12(1), 78-92.
Waltz, K. N. (1979). Theory of international politics. Addison-Wesley.

DOWNLOAD PDF

---

Back