TheCable

President Muhammadu Buhari and his Cameroonian counterpart, Paul Biya, have agreed to work towards the completion of the demarcation of the land boundary between both countries before the end of 2015.

Femi Adesina, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday.

According to him, a communiqué was issued at the conclusion of Buhari’s official visit to Cameroon.

Adesina said in the communiqué, both leaders welcomed the progress made in the demarcation, which is being undertaken under the auspices of the United Nations (UN).

“The two heads of state took note of the satisfaction expressed by the United Nations secretary-general in his most recent report on the work of the United Nations Office for West Africa from January to June 2015,” the statement read.

“This is with regards to progress made in the demarcation of the land boundary between Cameroon and Nigeria.

“They agreed to endorse the recommendation of the United Nations secretary-general on the completion before the end of 2015, of the land border demarcation work, in order to concentrate on enhancing cross-border cooperation.”

According to the communiqué, Buhari and his host also endorsed the commitments made at the extraordinary summit of the Lake Chad Basin Commission and Benin Republic held in Abuja on June 12.

The two presidents also agreed to strengthen security collaboration along their common border under the auspices of the Nigeria-Cameroon trans-border security committee.

They said this would also be achieved within the framework of the implementation of the concept of strategic operations approved at the Abuja summit.

Both leaders also reaffirmed their determination to strengthen cooperation with other neighbouring countries for the rapid elimination of terrorism and other security threats.

They thanked the United Nations, the African Union, ECOWAS, the Economic Community of Central African States and other bilateral and multilateral partners for their active solidarity in the war against Boko Haram.

The two leaders also reaffirmed their support for the implementation of the Lake Chad Basin Commission’s five-year investment programme (2013-2017).

The two heads of state welcomed the first meeting of governors of contiguous states and regions on the Nigeria-Cameroon border and called for regular meetings by the governors to strengthen collaboration between the two countries.

Buhari returned to the country on Thursday afternoon.