Cameroon, Central Africa’s biggest economy and Nigeria, West Africa’s greatest economy have all reasons to liaise together in order to foster economic growth in both nations as well as in the two sub regions.

The vantage geographic positions they occupy vis-à-vis the two sub regions is further galvanised by their long historic, cultural and boundary ties. The two countries share a common border of nearly, 1700 kilometres from north to south. Both governments are aware of the economic exigencies and opportunities starring them on the face and have historically been working and exhibiting high-level commitments to move forward for the benefit of their peoples.

In effect, economic growth and trade between the two nations have been growing steadily since 1960 even though not at the velocity one would have expected. The reason for this is simple; activities in these sectors have remained for the most part informal and obstacles to economic and commercial development are slow to be dismantled. The trump card from every indication for Cameroon and Nigeria to boost economic growth lies in the expansion of trade between the two countries.

In effect, an expanded trade could play a critical role in accelerating economic development and regional integration by opening up new markets for producers, and allowing them to benefit from economies of scale. This, according to the World Bank studies, will require reducing barriers to cross-border trade, allowing increased trade flows to reach the larger market, and permitting private sector producers to increase the scale of their activities.

Milestone

While the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission remains the first torch bearer to enhancing economic ties between the two countries, a recent confab organised in Douala by the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Craft in collaboration with the Nigerian High commission, produced palpable effects on moves to deepen trade between Cameroon and Nigeria.

According to statistics that emerged from the confab, between 2011 and 2014, exports from Nigeria, especially non-oil exports (cosmetics, textiles, motor spare parts, household equipment etc) stood at 36 per cent while those from Cameroon, mainly commodities and foodstuff scaled at 24 per cent. Participants at the conference who were basically business representatives expressed dissatisfaction at the figures and therefore proposed that the norms and standards set by the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission be revised ahead of the imminent creation of a business exchange platform between the two countries.

Besides the development of trade as a safety valve into economic growth, authorities of the two nations have been working towards setting an infrastructure base to fast-track progress. The African Development Bank (AfDB), with support from the World Bank, is currently financing the rehabilitation of the key corridor between the industrial heartland in Nigeria and rich agricultural production areas in Cameroon, notably the South West Region. 

Following rehabilitation, the 443 kilometre-long corridor between Bamenda-Mamfe-Ekok, Cameroon and Enugu, Nigeria has the potential to become a major avenue for trade between the two countries and the regional economic groupings in West and Central Africa. Part of the project also foresees the establishment of a joint border post under the joint leadership of the ECOWAS and CEMAC Commissions and the removal of roadblocks along the corridor, but progress on these issues has been limited.