President Biya and wife were welcomed by the Nigerian first couple at a solemn ceremony accompanied by 21 gun salute.

The gates of the Nigerian State House were flung open to the Cameroonian President, Paul Biya and wife Chantal Biya yesterday in a solemn ceremony organised to enable President Muhammadu Buhari and wife, Aisha Buhari give their guest a befitting welcome.

The State House ceremony took place in strict respect of State protocol and diplomatic decorum. Five interconnected scenarios marked the event; arrival at the State House ceremonial ground and shaking of hands, firing of the 21 gun salute, singing of the Anthems of the two countries, inspection of the guard of honour and introduction of the constituted corps.

It was exactly 2pm when the limousine transporting President Biya and wife from the Transcorp Hilton Hotel where they had made a stopover on arrival from the airport made its triumphant entry into the State House. The stage was well set with the Brigade of Guards band in full animation. The security was tight considering the present circumstances marked by growing insurgency. The peculiarity of the event was the singing of the Cameroon National Anthem before and after the inspection of the guard of honour.

Each country made a selection of ten members of its constituted corps. On the Cameroonian side were: the Minister of External Relations, Director of Civil Cabinet, Minister of Territorial Administration, Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Minister of Public Works, Minister of Special Duties at the Presidency, Minister of Finance, Cameroon’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Special Adviser of the President and State Protocol.

Concrete Agreements

Yesterday was really a busy day for the two Presidents, one which equally witnessed serious discussion between delegations and experts of the two countries. Worthy of note was the signing of two important binding documents; an agreement on Trade and a Memorandum of Understanding on the Technical Consultation for the Management of Water Resources in the Benue basin.

Signing on behalf of Cameroon was Lejeune Mbella Mbella, Minister of External Relations and Geofrey Omyeama, Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs for Nigeria. Even though nothing filtered from the one-hour Tête-à-tête between Presidents Biya and Buhari, it was evident there was convergence of views on key issues affecting the two nations, notably those concerning insecurity and economic development.

The State visit which ends today was another occasion to cement the excellent relations that exist between the two countries incarnated by the two leaders, who from every indication have demonstrated their determination to keep them afloat.