Nigerian President Umaru Musa Yar' Adua is expected to lead Nigeria officials to the handing over ceremony of the Bakassi Peninsula to the Republic of Cameroon on Thursday, a top official with the Cross Rivers state government said.

Edet Okon Asim, state commissioner for information told Xinhua that the state government will be playing host of top officials from the presidency and the international community at Abana community, for the official handing over of the Bakassi Peninsula.

He did not state the actual time the president would arrive due to security purpose.

According to him, some top government officials had already arrived in Calabar, Cross Rivers state capital, adding that the president aimed at maintaining the country's leadership position in Africa and the world at large.

(Xinhua News Agency August 14, 2008)