The new Border Bridge linking Nigeria and Cameroon at Mfum/ Ekok across the Cross River and the new Joint Border at Mfum has been officially commissioned on Wednesday the 3rf of November, 2022.
The project was jointly funded by the Governments of Nigeria, Cameroon and the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), the project begin in year 2017 and was completed in year 2021.
Commissioning the Bridge, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, (GCFR) said that this new Border Bridge between Nigeria and Cameroon would go a long way to curtail insecurity.
President Buhari who was represented at the ceremony by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada said: “The Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria also expects that this Joint Border Bridge and Border Post will enhance security patrol and cooperation in this part of the border with Cameroon and also hope that it will complement the current efforts of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Cameroon to combat the scourge of terrorism and violent extremism in our region.”
Speaking further he said the project is important because the activities of violent extremists have continued to present major challenges to the development of our countries and our regions.
“Their activities have continued to deter our economies and the maximization of the potential of our countries as well as cause political upheavals and menace in our regions.
Hence it is our hope that the commissioning of this project will accelerate the efforts our gallant security personnel who are already doing very well in securing our territories’, he said.
He added that the project which is part of the Nigerian-Cameroon Multinational Highway and Transport Facilitation Programme will remain a visible testimony to the continuing cooperation and good neighborliness between our two countries as well as regional economic communities.
“This Bridge and the Joint Border Post are proof that when Africans work with African institutions of standard, critical regional developmental projects can be achieved in record time,” he said.
Expressing his joy on the commissioning, he said: “I am glad that both Nigerians and Cameroonians living around these axises have remained jubilant since the completion of this Bridge and Joint Border Post.
Such excitement symbolizes the resolve of our peoples and governments to remain connected in spite of our seemingly artificial boundaries.
The completion and commissioning of this project could not have come at a more auspicious time when Nigeria has signed and ratified the African Continental Free Zone Area Agreement.”
The President said he is optimistic that the commissioning of the Border Bridge and Joint Border Post will not only strengthen the existing cordial relationship between Nigeria and Cameroon but it will also enhance cooperation between ECOWAS and ECCAS countries adding that the project has the potential to enhance the volume of economic activities in the regions especially as it will facilitate the movement of goods and services within the countries along these Corridor.
It will also serve as a vital link between the West and Central African Regions.
The joint Border Bridge is one of the projects under the Transport Facilitation Programme for the Bamenda-Enugu Corridor otherwise known as the Nigeria/Cameroon Multinational Highway and Transport Facilitation Programme.
It was embarked upon by both countries as part of the confidence building measures aimed at improving relations between both countries through the facilitation of movement of people, goods and services between both countries and also as a major economic route connecting the ECOWAS countries and their counterparts in the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) thereby facilitating trade and growth in the region.
In his remarks, the President of Cameroon, His Excellency Paul Biya said that the Programme for the transport facilitation of the Bamenda-Enugu road corridor was conceived by the founding fathers as a confidence building measure to strengthen relations between Nigeria and Cameroon following the strained relations arising as a result of the Bakassi Peninsula issue.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, the President who was represented by the Minister of Public Works of Cameroon, Mr. Emmanuel Nganou Njoumessi explained that 443 kilometers long Bamenda-Enugu corridor comprises the Cameroon Bamenda-Mamfe Ekok road sections, the Nigerian road sections of 240 kilometers, the bridge over the Munaya River in Cameroon and the border bridge of 230 meters over the Cross River.
On the importance of the project, he said that it is expected to help increase trade and also strengthen cooperation between countries of the Economic Community of Central African States and those of the Economic Community of West African States in general, and between Cameroon and Nigeria in particular.
He said: “The direct beneficiaries of the programme are the transport services users, as well as the 11,000,000 inhabitants (3,000,000) IN Cameroon and 8,000,000 in Nigeria) in the programme area representing 7% of the total population of both countries.” He added that the programme will reduce overall transport cost and improve the living conditions of the populations living along the road.
Delivering his welcome address, the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, CON commended the vision of the founding fathers and with gratitude acknowledged the roles played by the funding partners, the Ministry’s engineers/ Directors and also the host communities of Nigeria and Cameroon.
He said: “I can say with pride that our job has been done for the benefit of the people of Nigeria and Cameroon which the bridge connects.”
Continuing, he said that the most important thig about the project is that the bridge not only connect Nigeria and Cameroon but it begins a journey of a Trans-Africa connection. “The Nigeria/Cameroon Multinational Highway from Enugu in Nigeria to Bamenda in Cameroon is also part of the Dakar-Lagos-Mombasa, Kenya Trans-African Highway and this is the significance of this project,” .
In an exclusive interview with His Royal Highness Anthony Ntui Etta II, the host community of Ajassor clan, he highly commended the two countries and said that the Ajassor clan are indeed very happy and grateful for the project.
He said, the significance of the project cannot be overemphasized as it will strengthen the bond of affinity which already exist between their community with their kiths and kins of Ekok border community in Cameroon and even beyond. He added that the project would further boost trans-border commercial activities.
It was a very colorful commissioning ceremony that was well attended by stakeholders such as the EU, Africa Development Bank Group, ECOWAS. ECCAS, Senator representing Cross River Central, Distinguished, Senator Sandy Onor, the representative of the Governor of Cross River State the Hon. Commissioner of Works
.Engr. Dane Osim-Asu, the Minister from Cross River State in the Federal Exceptive Council. Mr. Goddy Jeddy-Agba, Minister of State, Transportation, Nigeria. Prince Ademola Adegoroye, Ministers from Cameroon, Nigerian Ambassador to Cameroon, Ambassador Gabriel Olunisakin, Traditional and Paramount Rulers and Mayor’s, Local Government Chairmen, members of the Military and Paramilitary Agencies. The event was spiced with cultural Traditional dancers from both countries.
