The government of Cameroon has restated its commitment to work closely with Nigeria to ensure effective implementation of policy framework for sustainable management of transboundary ecosystems conservation between both countries.
Mr Jules Ndongo, Cameroon’s Minister of Forestry and Wildlife, made this known in his keynote address at the official signing ceremony of the cooperation framework agreement between the two countries on Friday, April 19, 2024, in Abuja.
The agreement also focused on management of forestry and wildlife resources.
According to Ndongo, the historical and fraternal ties between Cameroon and Nigeria have great deal of strength, therefore, the need to deepen such ties to promote shared prosperity.
He said, “This is most common among our people living at the transboundary regions between the two countries.
“Some of their transaction involves the exportation and marketing of timber, other forest products and bush meats.
“It should be underscored that we cannot ascertain all these activities are carried out legally. The exportation of forestry resources and cross-border poaching are serious offenses.
“The context of cooperation and cross-border management of our forestry and wildlife resources through this agreement is aimed at implementing cross-border policies and programmes among other things.
“The government of Cameroon will do anything possible at its level to work closely with Nigeria toward implementing the agreement.”
In another keynote address, the Nigeria Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, assured Ndongo and the Cameroonian delegation of the Federal Government’s determination to achieve targets through the partnership.
Lawal said, “Nigeria and Cameroon do not just share common borders, but also have shared vision on the best approach towards protection of the resources between the two countries.
“This is for the overall wellbeing of our people, irrespective of the social, economic, environmental and cultural development of the two countries.”
He commended supports by the governments of Germany, the U.S., United Nations, European Union and other partners to have contributed towards the success so far recorded in the preservation of forestry and wildlife resources.
In his remark, Danter Renna, Environment, Science, Technology and Health Officer of the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, commended the milestone reached between Nigeria and Cameroon in terms of forestry and wildlife conservation.
According to him, the U.S. will support the agreement between Nigeria and Cameroon in the forestry and wildlife conservation, and preservation, particularly how such ideas promote cooperation among them.
“The U.S. is proud to be a partner between Nigeria and Cameroon, as well as in their work to preserve the natural ecosystem both share at transboundary levels,” he said.
Highpoint of the event was goodwill messages from the Embassy of Germany in Nigeria, UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by Ndongo and Lawal respectively.
By Fortune Abang
