DECLARATION BY NIGERIA RECOGNIZING AS COMPULSORY THE JURISDICTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE, IN CONFORMITY WITH ARTICLE 36, PARAGRAPH 2, OF THE STATUTE OF THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE

(Abuja, 29 April 1998)

AMENDED DECLARATION UNDER THE OPTIMAL CLAUSE

I have the honour, on behalf of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to declare that the acceptance by the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice by virtue of the Declaration made on 14th August, 19652 under Article 36 of the Statute of the Court, is hereby amended so as to read as set out in the following paragraph;

In conformity with paragraph 2 of Article 36 of the Statute, the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria accepts as compulsory ipso facto and without special agreement, in relation to any other State accepting the same obligation, that is to say, on condition of reciprocity, the jurisdiction of the Court over all legal disputes referred to in that paragraph of the Statute, other than:

(i) disputes in respect of which any party to the dispute has accepted the jurisdiction of the Court by a Declaration deposited less than Twelve Months prior to the filing of an Application bringing the dispute before the Court after the date of this Amended Declaration;

(ii) disputes in respect of which any party has filed an Application in substitution for or in lieu of all or any part of any Application to which sub-paragraph (i) refers;

(iii) disputes relating to matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of the Federal Republic of Nigeria;

(iv) disputes in respect of which any other party to the dispute has accepted the jurisdiction of the Court in relation to or for the purposes of the dispute;

(v) disputes in regard to which the parties have agreed or agree to have recourse to any other method of peaceful settlement;

(vi) disputes relating to or connected with facts or situations of hostilities or armed conflict, whether internal or international in character;

(vii) disputes with any State with which the Government of Nigeria does not have diplomatic relations;

(viii) disputes concerning the allocation, delimitation or demarcation of territory (whether land, maritime, lacustrine or super jacent air space) unless the Government of Nigeria specially agrees to such jurisdiction and within the limits of any such special agreement;

(ix) disputes in relation to matters which arose prior to the date of Nigeria's independence, including any dispute the causes, origins or bases of which arose prior to that date.

The Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria further reserves the right at any time, by means of a notification addressed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and with effect from the moment of such notification, to add to, amend or withdraw this Declaration or the reservations contained therein or any that may hereafter be added.

DONE at Abuja, this 29th day of April 1998.