The Nigerian National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki has assured the Cameroonian government that Nigeria has no ambition to acquire territories in that country.

The NSA spoke when he declared open the Second Session of the Nigerian/Cameroon Trans-Border security committee held in Abuja.

He said: “I wish to expressly state, that Nigeria does not have any territorial ambition, the resolution of the Bakasi Peninsula issue is a clear attestation to this.”

The NSA noted that cross border pursuit of terrorists should not be mistaken as territorial invasion, urging the delegation to make a case on the contentious issue of ongoing military operation.

He called on experts from both countries to deliberate objectively on how best to collaborate and secure the borders through the implementation of the security agreement and to ensure peace and progress exist in the two countries.

Dasuki said, the gathering was a continuation of what began in Yaoundé during the first session in November 2013, which provided the opportunity for border security agencies of the two countries to meet, discourse and negotiate issues that hitherto has been difficult.

Continuing, “From the last meeting to date, a lot of challenges have been thrown up especially pertaining to the rise in terrorist activities within and along the border, of our two countries.”

“Furthermore the security meetings held in Paris on the 17th of May 2014 and in London on 12th of June 2014 under the auspices of the leadership of both countries, respectively, underpins the need for this meeting.”

Dasuki used the opportunity to restate the commitment of the Nigerian Government to the development of peace, security and stability in Africa and with neighboring countries.

He said a cardinal point of Nigeria’s foreign policy can be attested to in the peaceful manner in which it relates to all its neighbours.

The NSA further said, the outcome of the second session will play a key role to the implementation of the decisions reached at the Paris and London meetings as well as Ministerial level summit scheduled to take place in September, 2014.

He acknowledged the efforts of the Cameroonian forces in flushing out members of Boko Haram that try to seek refuge in Cameroon or use the country as a launch pad for attacks into Nigeria.

The NSA noted that, “This collaboration no doubt prove advantageous to our two countries, taken the resolve of our Heads of Government, including the Paris meeting into consideration, an attack on one country of the region is an attack on another.”

Speaking earlier, the Head of Cameroon Delegation, Mr Rene Sadi, Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization said it was the responsibility of both governments to seek means to enforce and consolidate an environment of peace along their common borders.

Mr Rene Sadi noted that The Cameroonian authority has become more vigilant along the borders because of the recent influx of refugees.

He promised that Cameroon was going to deploy all its resources in the fight against terrorism, which is no doubt an infringement on the fundamental values of both countries.