JOINT COMMUNIQUÉ *******************
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Yaounde, 30 July 2015
At the invitation of His Excellency Paul Biya, President of the Republic of Cameroon, His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari, of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, accompanied by a delegation of top Government officials, paid a friendly and working visit to Cameroon on 29 and 30 July 2015.
1. The visit is part of efforts to strengthen the excellent and historic friendship and brotherly ties as well as good neighbourliness existing between the two countries.
2. On his arrival at the Yaounde-Nsimalen International Airport, His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari, of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, was welcomed by his counterpart, His Excellency Paul Biya, in the presence of national dignitaries and the diplomatic corps.
3. On his personal behalf and that of the Government and people of Cameroon, His Excellency Paul Biya, President of the Republic of Cameroon, wished his brother and friend, His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari, of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a warm welcome and a pleasant stay in Cameroon.
4. The two Heads of State held talks in an atmosphere of friendship and fraternity during which they reviewed a wide range of bilateral, regional and international issues.
5. On security issues, the two Heads of State noted with satisfaction the ongoing weakening of the operational capacities of Boko Haram. They condemned the terrorist attacks perpetrated by Boko Haram within the member countries of the Lake Chad Basin and expressed their condolences and compassion to the civilian and military victims of Boko Haram. Their Excellencies also reaffirmed their commitment and renewed support for the Multinational Joint Task Force in the war against Boko Haram. They expressed their common resolve to eliminate Boko Haram and, in this connection, agreed amongst other things, to intensify the exchange of intelligence between the security services of the two countries.
6. President Muhammadu Buhari reaffirmed the determination of his country to strengthen its cooperation with Cameroon and other neighbouring countries, for the rapid elimination of this phenomenon.
7. Both Heads of State pledged to strengthen security collaboration along their common border under the auspices of the Cameroon-Nigeria Trans-Border Security Committee and within the framework of the implementation of the concept of strategic operations approved at the Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Lake Chad Basin Commission and Benin, held in Abuja on 11 June 2015.
8. Both Heads of State welcomed the improvement of the surveillance of the maritime spaces of the two countries, resulting from their combined efforts within inter regional institutions. In the face of persistent attacks at sea, they decided to enhance their security cooperation, so as to make the coastal areas, in-land and sea water ways of Cameroon and Nigeria safer.
9. On bilateral relations, both leaders welcomed the exemplary cooperation between the two countries through the Joint Commission for Cooperation, which covers all socio-economic and development sectors namely; security, health, agriculture, education, trade, energy, infrastructure, environment, forests, water and consular affairs.
10. The two Heads of State welcomed the first meeting of Governors of contiguous States/Regions on the Nigeria-Cameroon border and called for regular meetings of this body to complement and strengthen collaboration between the two brotherly countries.
11. The two leaders agreed to convene the first session of the Cameroon-Nigeria Committee on Consular Affairs and Immigration by October 2015 in Abuja, Nigeria, to review the Protocol Agreement on Free Movement of Persons and Goods, signed in 1963.
12. They also decided to strengthen the excellent economic and trade relations between the Republic of Cameroon and the Federal Republic of Nigeria by promoting investment in both countries through the convening of the Cameroon-Nigeria Business Forum in Abuja, at a date to be mutually agreed.
13. The two Heads of State called for the early completion of construction works on the Bamenda-Enugu corridor. They also decided to accelerate feasibility studies to construct a bridge over Mayo-Tiel, and the Gamborou-Ngala-Kousseri road.
14. The two Heads of State took note of the satisfaction expressed by the UN Secretary General in his most recent report on the work of the UN Office for West Africa from January to June 2015, regarding progress in the demarcation of the land boundary between Cameroon and Nigeria. They agreed to endorse the recommendation of the UN Secretary General on the completion before the end of 2015 of the land border demarcation work in order to concentrate on enhancing cross-border cooperation.
15. The two Heads of State welcomed the agreement on Cross-border cooperation on hydro carbons which has been initialled and agreed to accelerate the process of signature and operationalization.
16. At the continental level, the two Heads of State examined the current socio-political situation in Africa, and reaffirmed their commitment to contribute to promoting peace and good governance as well as consolidating democracy on the continent.
17. The two Heads of State welcomed the holding of an ECCAS-ECOWAS Summit to pool together efforts in combating the terrorist sect, Boko Haram. They also endorsed the commitments made at the Extraordinary Summit of the LCBC and Benin held on 11 June 2015 in Abuja. They thanked the UN, the African Union, ECOWAS, ECCAS and several bilateral and multilateral partners for their active solidarity in the war against Boko Haram.
18. The two Heads of State also reaffirmed their support for the implementation of the LCBC Five-Year Investment Programme 2013-2017, which seeks to save Lake Chad, restore its ecosystem and promote the socio-economic development of the people living within the basin.
19. At the international level, the two Heads of State took note of the encouraging proposals and recommendations of the UN Conference on Financing for Development that took place from 13 to 16 July 2015 in Addis Ababa. They placed legitimate hope on the negotiation of a bold and fair global agreement on Climate Change at the upcoming International Conference on Climate Change in Paris, and on the adoption of the proposed Post-2015 Development Agenda at the high-level summit to be held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September 2015.
20. The two Heads of State also agreed to step up consultation at all levels, in order to enhance the excellent relations existing between the two countries.
21. His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari, of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, expressed profound gratitude to his Brother and Friend, His Excellency Paul Biya, President of the Republic of Cameroon, to his Government and to the brotherly people of Cameroon for the warm welcome and hospitality accorded him and his delegation.
22. His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari, of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, invited his Cameroonian counterpart, His Excellency Paul Biya, to pay a friendly and working visit to Nigeria. The invitation was accepted with pleasure and the date will be determined subsequently through diplomatic channels.
Done in Yaounde on 30th July 2015 both versions in English and French,being authentic.
For the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
ALIYU ISMA’ILA
For the Government of the Republic of Cameroon,
Pr. Pierre MOUKOKO MBONJO
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