…Thriving Completion with Financial Support from African Development Bank, the ECOWAS Commission ceded the Ekok-Mfum Joint Border Post (JBP) to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Republic of Cameroon

By Abdul Rahman Bangura-

Photo Credit: Premium Times Nigeria

NEW AFRICA BUSINESS NEWS (NABN) Freetown, Sierra Leone – The event was done by Sediko DOUKA – Commissioner of Infrastructure, Energy & Digitalization of the ECOWAS Commission on behalf of H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission on November 3rd, 2022, at the Ekok-Mfum Joint Border Post at the Nigeria and Cameroon border.

H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, gave prominence to the uniqueness of the two iconic projects (the JBP and the Border Bridge) as they relate the two Regional Economic Communities (RECs) of ECOWAS and ECCAS and fulfill as a key peace-building facility between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the
Republic of Cameroon, carried out under the ECOWAS Transport Facilitation Program.

In his address, Babatunde Raji Fashola San – Minister of Works and Housing of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, intensified the significance of the Border Bridge and the JBP to the Trans-African Highway from Praia in Cabo Verde through Dakar in Senegal, Lagos relating through Central Africa to end at Mombasa in Kenya. The Minister applauded all the Engineers that worked on the project and the people of the Community for giving a peaceful environment for the projects to be obtained.

H.E. Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, represented by H.E. Amb. Zubairu Dada, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Nigeria, pointed up the consequence of cooperation between African nations “This project, which is part of the Nigeria/Cameroon Multinational Highway and Transport Facilitation Programme
(NCMH&TFP), will continue a noticeable testament to the continuing cooperation and good neighborliness between our two countries, as well as Regional Economic Communities. This bridge, and Joint Border Post, are proofs that when African countries work with African Institutions, outstanding and people-centered cross-regional developmental projects can be achieved in record time” he told.

In his remarks, H.E. Paul Biya, the President of the Republic of Cameroon represented by Emmanuel Nganou Njoumessi, the Minister of Public Works of Cameroon underscored that the successful completion of the bridge and the JBP shows successful cooperation between Nigeria and Cameroon. He added that the border bridge and the
JBP will reduce transit time and enhance trade between the two countries. He complimented the ECOWAS and ECCAS Secretariats for successfully organizing the commission of the two integration projects.

The ECOWAS Commission, with financial support from the African Development Bank (AfDB), crafted a Joint Programme aimed at improving road infrastructure and stimulating trade and transport along the Enugu-Bamenda Corridor.

The program comprised of rebuilt and constructed about 455km of roads on both sides, institution of a Joint Border Post (JBP) and bridge over the cross-border river, the natural boundary line between the two countries, bridge. The main goal was to strengthen activity of people and goods by eliminating non-tariff obstacles impeding trade and transit. The JBP was constructed with a Grant of $26.575 million from the AfDB, and counterpart allotment from the ECOWAS Commission, that organized the all around enactment of the programme of the JBP, the Border Bridge and road modifications with near affiliation of ECCAS.

The blastoff of this JBP is anticipated to enable boost trade and bolster partnership between nations of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and those of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in general, and between Cameroon and Nigeria, in particular. The JBP relates to the recently commissioned 400-meter border bridge (and approach roads) on the Cross River, constructed under the same Corridor.

For New Africa Business News (NABN) Abdul Rahman Bangura Reports,  Africa Correspondent