Cameroon has no full control over Bakassi – Osih

Joshua Osih, first Vice-Chairman of the Social Democratic Front (SDF) and MP of Wouri Centre at the National Assembly, said Cameroon has no full control of the Bakassi Peninsula which was ceded back to the country.

This was after the Greentree agreement, signed on June 12, 2006 with Nigeria.

"It has always been a military and police zone. People cannot move freely. I want proof that the affected officials out there prefer to flee, including administrative authorities and the sub-prefects,” the parliamentarian stated in an interview with the daily La Nouvelle Expression for the Monday, August 24, 2015 edition.

He also lamented on the slow pace of the construction of Loum-Kumba-Ekondo Titi-Mundemba-Akwa road, which according to him is the most important project that could accelerate the development of this part of Cameroon.

"This road is the only project necessary for the development of Ndian today because it could open a gateway to the Nigerian market.”

The economic center of South-eastern Nigeria, Akwa, is closer to Port Harcourt and Calabar. “It is important to note that if the road from Loum in Akwa is constructed, Bakassi will become one of the largest markets in the sub region. People can live comfortably in Mundemba and go about their business in the day in Bakassi,” he added.

According to Joshua Osih, any project initiated by the government before the construction of this infrastructure would be counterproductive. "All these projects are useless as long as the basic infrastructure project, that is, the Loum-Kumba -Ekndo Titi-Mundemba-Akwa road is blocked," he advised.

The parliamentarian also classified the people of Bakassi as being hard workers, whether in agriculture or fisheries.

"The Ndian is one of the key links of the largest cocoa production area of Cameroon. The Kumba basin and the Bakassi delta are considered the areas which produce the most fish in Cameroon. This area supplies the markets in Limbe, Douala and the rest of Cameroon as well as the Nigerian market through Oron, Calabar and Port Harcourt,” explained the politician.

According to him, these activities will boost with the construction of a viable road to the area. Joshua Osih complained about the security problems in this peninsula. But aside these negative follow-ups; part of the main opposition party in Cameroon welcomes the harmonious coexistence between the Cameroonian and Nigerian nationals in this peninsula.