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The launch of a road program connecting both countries could help the trades between the ECOWAS and the CEMAC.

The road connecting Cameroon to Nigeria is 450 km long and represents 189 billion CFA franc investment. It has been in construction site since June 20th, 2010. The launch of the works was made, on both sides of the border, in the presence of the Cameroonian and Nigerian authorities, with the blessing of the landlords of funds, following the example of the African Development Bank ( BAD), which finances this program up to 60 %. Called the "road to integration ", it will enable the increase of economic trades ( which is already important) between the two countries as well as it will facilitate the link between the Cameroonian and Nigerian populations. Besides, this road appears as a catalyst for the economic development of a population reaching more than l70 million inhabitants.

An achievement which turns up just at the right moment, as it is congratulated on both sides, as far as " Nigeria and Cameroon, which are respective incentives in the development of western and Central Africa, have to show the good example in terms of development"

Respective incentives

Beyond the link between these two bordering countries, the current road program also participates in the intensification of the integration of two economic areas, in this particular case, the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) and the economic Community of the States of western Africa (ECOWAS). It looks like an achievement which turns up just at the right moment, as it is welcomed on both sides, as far as "Nigeria and Cameroon, which are respective incentives in the development of western and Central Africa, have to show the good example in terms of development".

By the end of this program, the economic trades between both regions will be more important and it will represent a progress within the framework of the African economic integration. Taking into account the economic weight of Nigeria and Cameroon in the regional development, " the road to integration " has not deserved its name yet, when one knows the volume of economic and commercial trade between Western Africa and Central Africa, among which Nigeria and Cameroon are major actors.

Active cooperation

With a length of 450 km, this road which connects Bamenda, in the region of the northwest of Cameroon, to Enugu in Nigeria, in the State of Cross Rivet, represents a part of a global program of regional development which fits in the framework of the improvement of cross-border transportation. Its construction, under the supervision of a Chinese firm, is considered as a pioneer project which includes the building-up of social and economic infrastructures which supply income and jobs.

With a global financing of 189 billion FCFA, this program benefits from the support of several financiers. It includes, among others, the African Development Bank (BAD), which contributes to 128 billion CFA francs, the Japanese Agency of international cooperation which provides 18 billion CFA francs and the World Bank with 12 billion CFA francs. To these contributions, you add the direct taxes of the Nigerian and Cameroonian governments, which represent respectively 9,5 billion CFA francs and 7,5 billion CFA francs.

The Nigerian Minister of Public works, Mohammed Sanusi Daggash, and his Cameroonian counterpart, Bernard Messengue Avom, indicated that the launch of this program of integration and development is " the achievement of an active cooperation between Cameroon and Nigeria, two brother-countries which put themselves together to resolve their problems, work at the well-being of their populations and contribute to the mutual development in their respective zones.

By Achille Mbog Pbasso, in Douala