CI-NEWS

Cameroon and Nigeria resolve to re-strengthen trans-border security.

2019-07-09

No: 435

Cameroon and Nigeria resolve to re-strengthen trans-border security.

Cameroon and Nigeria, very close and friendly countries, have in the past years been challenged by the insecurity afflicting those living at the borders which renders borders unsafe. Considering that these two countries share a very broad border, in seeking strategies to maintain peace and harmony, the Cameroon-Nigeria Trans-border Security Committee came to light on the 28th February 2012.

The 7th Session of this committee, holding in Yaounde from 4 to the 5 July 2019 last week, opened another opportunity for the two countries to review their trans-border cooperation deals and ensure safety for all using the border or living around the borders.

The session was highly attended by the delegation from Nigeria comprising the Governors of some states close to Cameroon, some Nigerian top military figures and other dignitaries. However, from the side of Cameroon, the head of delegation was Paul Atanga Nji, Cameroon’s Minister of Territorial Administration who was accompanied by Minister Delegate at the Ministry of External Relations in charge of Relations with Commonwealth, Mbayu Felix; ministerial delegations made up of five governors especially from the war-torn North West and South West regions and also the Cameroon’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Abbas Ibrahima. Alongside them, was a delegation of experts on the side of Cameroon who were present to make the session successful through their intellectual contributions.

Closing the ceremony, the Minister of Territorial Administration, expressed gratitude to the Nigerian Delegation considering their commitment to objectives of the session.

“I want to thank my brother, the head of the Nigerian delegation, who has been here for the past 72 hours. We have had fruitful deliberations and this 7th session has come to stay because we still have security challenges. We discussed extensively the issues of common interest. I want to thank the governors of the two states of Nigeria who have accepted within their forum to meet often to exchange intelligence”, said Paul Atanga Nji.

He called on the committee to consider its resolutions important and work hard to implement what was resolved on paper.

It is important to note that this is coming at the time the crises in Cameroon have expanded the insecurity within the borders and exposed the borders to new combat grounds, be it in the English speaking regions where the army battles separatist forces or in the Far North region of Cameroon where the terrorist organisation, Boko Haram, is giving sleepless nights to the military and civilians.

To Brigadier General EA Ndagi, head of the Nigerian delegation, it was a historic event and the resolutions formed the climax of the session.

“Throughout the course of the deliberations, I have been able to interact with my subcommittee chairman in security border control, survey, inspection, diplomacy and justice. And from my interactions I have no doubt that the deliberations were fruitful and from what we have gone through, it is our fervent prayer the agreements reached, will be implemented and will enhance all the trans-border concerns we have already highlighted”, said Brigadier General Ndagi.

The session was officially closed at Mont Febe Hotel at an odd hour towards midnight by the MINAT boss wherein a midnight dinner was offered to the delegations present.

The challenges were enormous but the resolutions gave a new hope to rise above the challenges.

By Fonban Emmanuel.

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Cameroon and Nigeria resolve to re-strengthen trans-border security.