Tag: Paul Biya
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Photos: Buhari presents Biya, wife departure gift
President Buhari presents Cameroonian President, Paul Biya, Wife, Chantal a gift -
Photos: Paul Biya, wife arrive Nigeria
L-R: Hajia Aishat Buhari, Wife of President Buhari; Paul Biya, Cameroonian President, President Muhammadu Buhari and Mrs Chantal Biya 
L-R: Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and President of Cameroon, Paul Biya at the state house 
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo welcomes the Cameroonian President, Biya 
President of Cameroon, Paul Biya and Wife, Chantal Biya, arriving at the International Airport Abuja -
Biya arrives Nigeria Tuesday
President Paul Biya of Cameroon will begin a two-day state visit to Nigeria on Tuesday.
Biya, who will be accompanied by his wife, Chantal and senior Cameroonian government officials, will be received on Tuesday afternoon at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Both leaders and their officials, according to a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Femi Adesina, will confer on issues of common interest to Nigeria and Cameroon, including ongoing bilateral and regional cooperation against terrorism, violent extremism and cross-border crimes.
It is expected that new agreements to strengthen existing ties, as well as trade and economic relations between Nigeria and Cameroon, will be concluded and signed before the end of President Biya’s visit.
A joint communiqué on the visit and the talks between the two presidents and their officials will be issued before President Biya’s departure from Abuja on Wednesday.
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Nigeria, Cameroon promises cooperation against Boko Haram
President Muhammadu Buhari and his Cameroonian counterpart, Paul Biya, pledged on Thursday to improve the exchange of intelligence and security cooperation along their border in a bid to tackle the Boko Haram sect.
Concluding his first visit to Cameroon since he was elected in March, President Buhari and his Cameroonian host voiced support in a joint statement for a planned multinational task force to fight Boko Haram, which has sworn allegiance to Islamic State, Reuters says.
Buhari’s visit came after the insurgents launched a wave of attacks in Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger that has killed hundreds of people in the past two months.
The attacks follow a four-month military campaign by Nigeria, Chad and Niger that drove Boko Haram out of the towns in northeast Nigeria.
“The two heads of state note with satisfaction the weakening of the operational capabilities of Boko Haram,” read a joint statement in French.
“They expressed their common determination to eradicate Boko Haram and in this respect agreed to intensify intelligence sharing between their security services.”
The 8,700-strong task force of five nations near Lake Chad – Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin – was due to start operations from July 31, but has been dogged by questions of funding, coordination and political will.
“As a result of the promises made by the G-7 to help the region to defeat Boko Haram, we are expecting some input in terms of training and equipment,” Reuters quoted Buhari as saying to Cameroonian state television before his departure aboard a Nigerian air force plane.
Biya took no questions.
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No nation can beat terror in isolation, says Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday night said that Nigeria and neighbouring countries must stand together to defeat the terrorists group, Boko Haram in the sub-region.
He made the remark at a state dinner in Yaounde, during his two-day working visit to Cameroon.
Buhari said that countries in the sub-region cannot afford to falter in their resolve to get rid of the evils of terrorists.
He said: “We recognize that none of us can succeed alone. In order to win this war we need the collective efforts of each one of us, standing together as a formidable force for good, to defeat and end these acts of terror against our people.”
He also informed guests at the dinner hosted by President Paul Biya that the security situation in the region presented an opportunity for Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin to work together for their common security, peace and socio-economic development.
“Let me assure all of my relentless pursuit of all possible means to safeguard Nigeria’s territorial integrity, protect the lives and property of our citizens as well as my commitment to continue to collaborate with Cameroon and our neighbours, within the framework of the Lake Chad Basin Commission.
“The Federal government of Nigeria is committed to respecting international norms to resolve this matter and to restore normalcy to all the affected areas as soon as possible,’’ he said.
Buhari, who had earlier on his arrival on Wednesday held a closed-door session with his host, thanked President Biya for providing refuge to Nigerians who had fled their homes because of the insurgents.
He also commended Cameroon for its support to Nigerian military and security personnel in the fight against terrorism and offered his condolences to the families of the victims of terror in both countries.
He also announced Nigeria’s willingness to expand economic partnerships with Cameroon, through increased joint ventures in infrastructure development, transport and commerce, among others.
Buhari welcomed the achievements so far recorded by the Nigeria-Cameroon Joint Commission and all the landmark agreements signed between both countries.
Describing the relations between both countries as excellent, he recognized the roles played by past and present leaders and Nigerian citizens in sustaining friendly relations with Cameroon.
Biya, while congratulating President Buhari for a successful inauguration into office, said that Buhari’s electoral victory has provided an opportunity for him to preside over the “destiny of Nigeria.”
He said: “Mr President, a dark cloud is looming over our countries even as we welcome you; we are facing the same threat, which may rock the foundation of our two nations.
“This danger bears the name of Boko Haram, its atrocities and crimes are jeopardizing peace around Lake Chad and especially in our two countries.
“The number of dead and victims are rising, economic activities have been crippled in affected areas, the number of refugees and displaced persons are ever increasing.
“We cannot allow this cancer to spread, we must pool our resources and forces and share our experiences,’’ he said.
President Biya, who reaffirmed Cameroon’s commitment in the fight against terror, welcomed the “fresh push” on economic ties between both countries through easing of trade.
“I strongly believe in your readiness to work towards that goal and your visit to Cameroon as well as the discussions we have had have strengthened my conviction.” he said
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Update: Buhari, Biya in closed-door meeting
President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday held closed-door meeting with his Cameroonian counterpart, Paul Biya, at the Cameroonian State House called ‘Unity Palace.”
The meeting which started at about 2:06pm is still ongoing at the time of filing this report.
Apart from security issues and Boko Haram threats, the two leaders are expected to discuss on how to sustain bilateral relations between the two countries, among other matters.
Buhari had arrived the VIP wing of the Yaounde International Airport at 10:50am for a two-day friendly and working visit. He was received on his arrival by President Biya .
Right from the airport to his hotel room, which is about 25 minutes, Cameroonians and Nigerians trooped out and dotted the road dancing and waving to President Buhari.
They were not allowed to spill to the road by armed security personnel that dotted the two sides of the road.
Shops, doors and gates to buildings by the roadside were also shut.
Snipers were strategically positioned on top of high buildings by the roadside.
While Nigeria and Cameroon flags were hung on the two sides of the road at intermittent intervals, there were also banners with various messages on the strong ties between the two countries.
President Buhari is also scheduled to meet Nigerians residing in Cameroon at 6pm local time at the Hilton Hotel in Yaounde.
President Biya will host Buhari and members of his delegation including state governors at the State House at 8pm.
There will also be joint press conference by the two leaders at the end of the visit on Thursday.
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Buhari arrives Cameroon, holds talks on terrorism
President Muhammadu Buhari arrived Cameroon on Wednesday for talks on how to combat the escalating regional threat from the Boko Haram sect.
AFP reports that security was tight for the 24-hour visit, after a surge of Boko Haram violence in Cameroon including an unprecedented series of five suicide bombings in the far north.
Presidential guard soldiers were posted on rooftops of houses and along the route from the airport to the presidential palace in Yaounde, while vehicles armed with machine-guns patrolled the streets and access to the hotel where Buhari will stay was blocked.
The trip comes a day after Nigeria vowed that a new regional force tasked with fighting the insurgents would go into action soon.
Nigeria’s government had said Buhari’s talks with his Cameroonian counterpart Paul Biya were part of his “ongoing effort to build a more effective regional coalition against Boko Haram.”
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Boko Haram: Buhari visits Cameroon, Benin Republic
To build a more effective regional coalition against the Boko Haram sect, President Muhammadu Buhari will visit Cameroon on Wednesday for talks with President Paul Biya and senior Cameroonian Government officials.
The talks between Buhari and his Cameroonian counterpart, according to a statement issued by Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, are expected to focus on the full activation and deployment of the Multinational Joint Task Force against Boko Haram, which has been established under the auspices of the Lake Chad Basin Commission.
President Buhari, who will be accompanied on the two-day trip by six state governors and the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Defence and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, the statement said, will also discuss further joint measures to curb terrorism, violent extremism and other cross-border crimes.
The state governors on the President’s entourage are – Alhaji Mohammed Bindow (Adamawa), Mr. Emmanuel Udom (Akwa Ibom), Mr. Samuel Ortom (Benue), Alhaji Kashim Shettima (Borno), Mr. Ben Ayade (Cross River) and Mr. Darius Ishaku (Taraba).
President Buhari will also use the opportunity of his visit to Cameroon to meet with Nigerians living in the East African nation.
The President, who is due back in Abuja on Thursday, will also undertake a one-day trip to Benin Republic on Saturday for talks with President Boni Yayi to round-off the diplomatic shuttles to neighbouring countries.
