The Nigerian Consul General to the Southwest and Northwest Regions in Buea, His Excellency Dan Wari Nwazim, has told his compatriots residing in Kumbo, Bui Division, that they should reciprocate Cameroonians who are very peaceful and accommodative by being very loyal, hardworking and responsible Citizens.

Dan Wari made the remark while addressing members of the Nigerian Union in Kumbo on the occasion of his maiden visit to Bui Division in the Fomo Hotel Kumbo August 9, 2014.

He stated that in Nigeria, aliens are identified with consular identity cards that are recognised by Yaounde but some zealous law enforcement agents in the road between Yaounde and Kumbo do not recognise them and insist on resident permits and passports.

He added that some of these Policies implemented at local levels are not actually approved by Yaounde; adding that it is embarrassing when, after getting the consular identity cards from the Nigerians, they want the Nigerians to carry their resident permits and passports even when going to the toilet or the market which should not be the case.

The Nigerian Consul General stressed that it is only when the law enforcement agents are not sure of what the person is doing that they should ask if he has legal attributes to stay in Cameroon or request for his resident permit.

He blamed the Nigerians living in Kumbo, Bui Division for bribing law enforcement agents with FCFA 5.000 or 10,000 to issue semi resident permits which do not exist anywhere. He advised his compatriots to stop going to the Fon of Nso for consular identity cards for they are only issued by the Consul General. He revealed that resident permits are issued at the level of Cameroon and Nigeria at the cost of FCFA 120.000.

Concerning education, he said Cameroon has one of the best educational systems in the world as the A/L G.C.E is recognised all over the world. Regarding information about Joint Admission and Matriculation Board Examinations, JAMB, and Public examinations in Nigeria, “we would send out a team between February and April every year to come out and sensitise the children of Nigeria when they will take place”.

He said there was a need for Nigerians living in Diaspora, like Cameroonians, to create a National Union of Nigerians living in Cameroon to cater for their needs.

“After the celebration of the Independent Day of Nigeria as the level of the consulate in Buea the celebration will rotate from the Southwest to the Northwest Region,” he added.

The Senior Divisional Officer for Bui, Theophile Nzeki, in his welcome speech said Cameroon and Nigeria are two friendly Countries and called on the Nigerians resident in Bui to continue to be hardworking, peaceful and law abiding so as to continuously enjoy the fruits of their labour.

He, like the fourth Deputy Mayor of Kumbo, Ibrahim Yufenyuy, said “our common enemy is the Boko Haram sect which perpetrates the killing of innocent citizens and kidnappings”.

They noted that without the complicity of citizens to facilitate their activities they cannot succeed and called on all to denounce suspicious characters in their community. The SDO reassured the Nigerian Consul General of collaboration with the Nigerian community living in Bui.

The secretary General of the Nigerian Union in Bui, Keneth Nwabueze Ayoha, in his speech said such visits should be a routine exercise. He appealed to the Consul General to make efforts to ease the admission procedures of their children into Nigerian Universities. Nwabueze thanked the Bui administration and the Fon of Nso for their hospitality, protection and fatherly care.

He reiterated their commitment to be law abiding citizens and to respect the norms and policies of Cameroon; pledging their individual and several continuous loyalty and neutrality in the political affairs of Cameroon. He appealed that provision be made for Nigerians in Cameroon to participate in the 2015 presidential elections in Nigeria.

Chief Wadiagwu Nwane of the Nigerian Union Bui presented the ‘Kola-nuts for breaking’ while Shufai Ndzenzev, who represented the Fon of Nso, blessed and broke the kola-nuts and distributed them to the dignitaries.