The Nigerian Government has disclosed that the 1.5km Nigerian-Cameroon double lane bridge linking both countries from Ekot-Mfum, Etung Local Government Area of Cross River state will boost needed African trade between both nations.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola on Monday, who cited that the bridge, which is being funded by both countries, will also strengthen ties and improve security.
What Fashola said
”This is the first shoot of the harvest of completed projects proposed as the administration enters the second phase of the second term on its way out,” Mr Fashola said.
We have had a strong relationship with the Republic of Cameroon in terms of trade and business.
If you go to Aba, Enugu, and Abakaliki for example, I can tell you that they are on the route that facilitates trade in agro-produce, merchandise, and manufactured goods from Aba in Abia state.
You can only expect that this will improve joint border patrol, ensure security, more efficiency which you see from the first buildings formed out of the integration of ECOWAS and sister nations of what the continent should look like.
Nigeria is now a signatory to the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement. So this is infrastructure that positions both nations to take the benefit of the trade that agreement holds.
It is really exciting. Looking into the future you can only see more business, more trade, and employment meant for people,” Fashola said.
He added that another point of the bridge is for the prosperity and happiness of people, citing that “as long as our people are happy, they can travel easily, they can reduce their journey, save time on the road because if you save time you save money.”
What you should know
Nairametrics reported last month that the African Development Bank (AfDB) has stated that the $430 million highway connecting the South East region of Nigeria from Enugu to Bamenda, in Cameroon will be finished before the end of the year.
