By Chioma Nnodim
People of Ajassor community in Cross River State, a border Community between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and that of the Republic of Cameroon were all jubilant, excited and full of commendation as President Muhammadu Buhari, and his Cameroonian counterpart President Paul Biya commissioned the two-lane border bridge over the Cross River at the Nigeria-Cameroon border and the joint border post .
The new border bridge links Nigeria and Cameroon at Mfum/ Ekok across the Cross River and the new Joint Border Post at Mfum.
This was made known to Journalists in a statement issued by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Blessing Lere-Adams, on Tuesday.
The project which was jointly funded by the Governments of Nigeria, Cameroon and the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), began in 2017 and was completed in 2021.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, the representative of the community and the Head of Ajassor clan, His Royal Highness, Ntufam Anthony Ntui Etta II said that, the people of Ajassor clan are indeed very happy and grateful to God and the two countries that made it possible for the project to be completed.
He also thanked all the facilitators, engineers and financiers for the landmark project.
According to him, the project would strengthen the already existing bond of affinity between their communities and their kiths and kins of Ekok border community in Cameroon and beyond.
“It will further enhance easy accessibility, cooperation, and peaceful coexistence as well as boost trans-border commercial activities.” he said
Continuing, he listed the benefits of the project to include; creation of wealth for the teaming youth and economic empowerment of the people of the community.
Accordingly, he thanked the government of Nigeria and Cameroon, pointing out that for the people to enjoy the full benefit of the project, a provision should be made for public utilities such as health facilities and expansion and dualization of the multi-national highway to ease traffic congestion.
Removal of multiple security checkpoints set up by various security agencies, provision of efficient security patrol team and post amongst others, were also necessary, he added.
