Turning Towards A Joint Development Agreement in the Midst of Disputes and Uncertainties Over International Maritime Boundaries: Nigeria-Cameroon Dispute as a Case Study

Wifa, Eddy; Amakoromo, Mark; Johnson Ogbo, Ibiateli

Abstract

The relevance of hydrocarbon resources to both developing and developed countries cannot be overemphasised especially as it relates to the economic development of such countries and ensuring some degree of stability on energy security concerns. It is on these grounds that countries desire to identify and control such resources located within their boundaries. While such boundaries are easily identifiable in some cases, in others the lack of a consensus over boundary lines forms the basis for prolonged conflict. This is in spite of the robust international legal regime on the subject of boundary delimitation. This paper critically evaluates the conflicts and uncertainties associated with maritime boundary disputes despite the prevalence of both statutory and judicial interventions aimed at resolving them. It further considers the possibility of turning towards a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) as a provisional measure to resolve such situation. The maritime boundary dispute between Nigeria and Cameroon over the Bakassi Peninsula is used here as a case study, and the argument is made that the ensuing conflicts and uncertainties over the boundary dispute between both countries would have been avoided if a JDA had been utilised at the early stages of the dispute. It is hoped that the case study scenario will serve as an example to other countries embroiled in conflict over their maritime boundaries, encouraging them to consider the use of a JDA in the midst of disputes and uncertainties over maritime boundaries.

Citation

Wifa, E., Amakoromo, M., & Johnson Ogbo, I. (2017). Turning Towards A Joint Development Agreement in the Midst of Disputes and Uncertainties Over International Maritime Boundaries: Nigeria-Cameroon Dispute as a Case Study. Oil, gas and energy law, 15(1),

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Jan 31, 2017
• Publication Date: Jan 31, 2017
• Deposit Date: Sep 24, 2024
• Journal: Oil, Gas and Energy Law
• Electronic ISSN: 1875-418X
• Publisher: Maris B.V.
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 15
• Issue: 1
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2875787
• Publisher URL: https://www.ogel.org/article.asp?key=3675