⁠• Cameroon seeks stronger ties with Nigeria
• ⁠⁠Lists agriculture, energy, transport as key areas

The National Assembly (NASS) has suspended all official visits to South Africa and ordered a boycott of legislative activities hosted or organised by South African authorities over continuing reports of xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals.

This came as Cameroon has identified agriculture, energy and transport as key areas where stronger economic cooperation with Nigeria could deepen trade and investment between the two countries.

According to a statement issued on Friday by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, the NASS took the decision following consultations between the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Under the resolution, all official visits to South Africa by the National Assembly, its committees, lawmakers, officials and staff have been suspended until further notice.

The boycott also covers conferences, seminars, workshops, parliamentary meetings, legislative exchanges and other programmes organised or hosted by South African legislative authorities.

The National Assembly said the ban extends to both physical and virtual participation in South African-hosted legislative activities.

The development followed what the lawmakers described as “grave concern” over continuing reports of xenophobic attacks, violence, intimidation, destruction of property and other forms of hostility against Nigerians and other African nationals living in South Africa.

The National Assembly leadership said it was particularly concerned by reports of Nigerians being killed, injured and displaced, with some forced to abandon their businesses, investments, homes and other properties.

It said the incidents had continued despite repeated appeals by the Nigerian Government and other stakeholders to the South African authorities to take decisive measures to protect Nigerians and other foreign nationals and bring perpetrators of xenophobic violence to justice.

“In view of these developments and following consultations between the Leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives, the National Assembly has resolved to suspend all official visits to the Republic of South Africa and to boycott South African-hosted or South African-organised legislative activities and engagements until further notice,” the statement read.

The leadership acknowledged the intervention of the Federal Government and other stakeholders, including efforts to assist affected Nigerians and facilitate the evacuation of Nigerian nationals from South Africa.

The National Assembly, however, stressed that its decision was not intended to undermine Nigeria’s long-standing historical, diplomatic and people-to-people relations with South Africa. Rather, it said the measure was aimed at expressing its concern over the safety, dignity and welfare of Nigerians living and conducting legitimate businesses in the country.

The lawmakers called on the South African Government to take urgent and concrete measures to protect Nigerians and other African nationals within its territory and prevent further xenophobic attacks.

They also demanded thorough investigations into reported incidents, the arrest of suspected perpetrators and the prosecution of those found culpable in accordance with the law.

The Clerk to the National Assembly has consequently been directed to communicate the resolution to senators, members of the House of Representatives, committees, departments, directorates, officials and staff to ensure strict compliance.

The leadership also called on the leadership of state Houses of Assembly to take note of the decision and consider adopting similar measures.

The National Assembly said it would continue to monitor developments concerning the safety and welfare of Nigerians in South Africa.

The lawmakers added that the suspension and boycott would remain in force until further notice, subject to review by the leadership as circumstances warranted.

The Director of Investment Promotion at the Investment Promotion Agency of Cameroon, Emmanuel Tamungang, called for stronger ties with Nigeria while speaking on the sidelines of the Invest in Lagos and Expo Forum held in Lagos.

Tamungang said Cameroon was seeking to use the longstanding relationship between both countries to create greater opportunities for businesses and investors, describing Nigeria as a major trade partner and an important gateway to West Africa.

According to him, Cameroon also provides Nigerian businesses with access to the Central African market, making the two countries complementary economic hubs.

“Nigeria serves as a bridge for Cameroon into West Africa, and Cameroon serves as a bridge for Nigeria into Central Africa,” he said, noting that the two countries share a border of more than 1,700 kilometres as well as longstanding cultural ties.

Tamungang said the Investment Promotion Agency serves as a one-stop shop for investors, with responsibilities including promoting Cameroon as an investment destination, attracting and supporting investments, granting tax and other incentives, and providing investors with information on available projects and opportunities.

He said incentives available to economic operators could run for between five and 15 years, depending on the investment.
The Cameroonian official also announced that Nigeria would be invited as the guest country of honour at the fifth edition of the Cameroon Investment Forum scheduled for November 18 to 20.

He said the event would provide an opportunity to showcase Nigeria’s trade and investment opportunities while creating a platform for both countries to strengthen economic cooperation.

Tamungang said Nigeria’s actual trade with Cameroon was likely to be significantly higher than official figures suggest because of the porosity of the countries’ borders.

He noted that Nigerians were already active in Cameroon in areas including automotive spare parts, services and agribusiness.

Beyond trade, however, he identified weak transport links, financial barriers and the absence of a stronger customs cooperation framework as some of the challenges limiting bilateral economic relations.

According to him, the two countries should consider mechanisms to prevent the duplication of taxes and charges on goods moving across their borders.

He also called for improvements in transport infrastructure, particularly direct air links between Nigeria and Cameroon, noting that travellers often have to transit through other African countries.

Tamungang equally proposed stronger maritime connections and an arrangement that could make currency conversion between the naira and Central African CFA franc easier for businesses operating across the border.

He further advocated the revival of platforms such as the Nigeria-Cameroon Mixed Commission, as well as stronger chambers of commerce and other private-sector mechanisms to facilitate business relations.

He identified what he described as cultural differences in business practices as another obstacle to stronger economic integration.

While Cameroon and Nigeria share historical and cultural ties, he said businesses in both countries needed to better understand each other’s ways of conducting business and building commercial relationships.

On areas for skills and knowledge exchange, Tamungang said Cameroon could learn from Nigeria’s experience in reducing dependence on imported commodities, particularly rice, as the Cameroonian government pursues an import-substitution strategy.

He also pointed to Nigeria’s creative and entertainment industries as an area from which Cameroon could learn, while noting that Cameroon had strengths in artisanal production and ICT training that could provide opportunities for reciprocal cooperation.

He said both countries could work towards developing training and educational programmes that respond to African realities and equip their young people with skills needed to compete globally.

On investment priorities, Tamungang placed agriculture at the top of the list, particularly the development of value chains covering production, transportation and trade.

He also highlighted energy, saying Cameroon has significant hydroelectric potential that could support industrial development, as well as transport infrastructure spanning roads, railways, maritime and air transport.

He said investment in the three sectors could strengthen the economies of both countries while improving their ability to serve as gateways between West and Central Africa.

Tamungang said stronger Nigeria-Cameroon cooperation would also position both countries to take greater advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area by facilitating the movement of goods, services and people across the region.
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Speaking at the Cameroon Session during the Invest Nigeria Conference, the Consul General of Cameroon, Mrs. Bibi Lobe, representing the High Commissioner of Cameroon in Nigeria, His Excellency Salaheddin Ibrahima, lauded the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) for its support to the consulate and guidance on trade and businesses matters.
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She said the collaboration has resulted in notable improvement since 2024, including creation of Cameroon Business Network, hosting the first ever Cameroon Economic Forum and the participation of the Cameroon Investments Promotion Agency in Lagos International Trade Fair that same year.
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She noted that the Director General, Cameroon Investments Promotion Agency, Mr. BOMA DONATUS was interested in further strengthening the economic ties between Cameroon and Nigeria.
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She added that the consulate was currently taking steps to establish a Nigeria-Cameroon bilateral Chamber of Commerce, while also applauding he Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) for providing a formal framework in terms of rules and regulations as well as the Lagos state government for their continued support.
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She explained that NACCIMA is the organisation providing the needed information to establish the Bilateral Chamber, and according to rules and regulations, the Bilateral Chamber will be the formal framework to carry out the responsibility of strengthening economic cooperation.