The Foreign Affairs Committee discussed the draft bill on June 21, 2014.

The members of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly on June 21, 2014 examined the bill to authorize the President of the Republic to ratify the agreement between the Republic of Niger and the Republic of Cameroon signed on 30 October 2013, relating to the transit and evacuation of hydrocarbons from the Republic of Niger through the territory of the Republic of Cameroon via the Chad-Cameroon Pipeline.

The Minister of Mines, Industries and Technological Development, Emmanuel Bonde defended the bill assisted by the Minister of External Relations, Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo. The agreement concerns crude oil mined from the sub-soil of Niger. Niger as from November 28, 2011 started exploiting its first oil deposits located in Diffa Region to the South–East of Niger near its border with Chad.

The proven reserves of the deposits largely surpass the needs of the local market, necessitating the quest by the country to sell the surplus production on the international market. Niger is however, a landlocked country and the sale of the said oil surplus require transit through a State such as Cameroon having access to the sea.

By signing the agreement, Niger and Cameroon respected the United Nations Convention on the Law to the Sea in which Cameroon is party.  It provides the right of access of landlocked States to the sea and the rights of transit States, in exercise of their full sovereignty, to protect their legitimate interest.

The ratification of the agreement will enable Cameroon seize the opportunity of its geographical advantage to promote sub-regional cooperation on hydrocarbons.  It will also create the possibility for Cameroon to substantially increase its income from the transit dues which have just been revised upward.