His Excellency Lawal Bappah is the New Nigerian Consul-General for the Northwest & Southwest regions of Cameroon, with residence in Buea. This seasoned diplomat, last October, took over from HE Ibrahim Mohammed Bashir who came to the end of his three-year mandate as Consul-General and was assigned other duties in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria. Lawal Bappah says Nigeria and Cameroon have much in common, insisting: “I am home away from home” The new Consul-General sat down for an exclusive interview with AFRICA EXCELLENCE Editor-in-Chief, Christopher Ambe & Reporter, Bongbawo Sheron Tita
Excerpts:
What were your impressions about Cameroon before your appointment as Consul-General for the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon?
I have a very good impression of Cameroon. As a student of History, I knew the positive role played by Cameroon during Nigeria’s trying moment of Civil War (1967-1970).
Despite France support for Biafra, Cameroon stood by Nigeria, which immensely contributed towards the resolution of the conflict. Cameroon is beautiful country and a kind of miniature of Africa, with both English and French used as main language.
The country shares a lot of historical, geographical cultural, religious and social ties with my Country Nigeria. In addition, Nigeria and Cameroon are good neighbourly countries, with long-standing very cordial bilateral relations. So, when I heard that I was posted to Cameroon, I said I was coming to serve in Nigeria. My impression before coming to Cameroon was, and still is that, both Nigeria and Cameroon are one and I am home away from home.
Since your arrival in Cameroon has your previous opinion about Cameroon in general and the two English-speaking regions (the Northwest & Southwest) in particular, changed?
Not at all, I believe one good turn deserves another. I feel Nigeria and Cameroon should continue to strengthen cooperation to resolve their common security challenges; especially along their common borders in the Northwest and Southwest Regions.
As a dipolmat of long years in service, I have served in various countries of the globe and am aware that all the countries of the world have their different challenges. Life itself is full of challenges, challenges of various kinds-personal, family, national, global, etc. Challenges are bound to come but they will eventually be overcome. Everything in life is a matter of time; just like the Nigerian Civil War is now a thing of the past. In the same way, as we are praying and trusting God for peace to reign in the two regions mentioned, I believe the crisis will also become a thing of the past. Time is a good healer of situations.
You have taken over as Consul-General in Buea in the midst of the on-going Anglophone Crisis. Could your office be of help, somehow, in seeking ways to ending the crisis?
The Consulate-General’s primary mandate is to address consular matters and facilitate trade between the North West and South West Regions and Nigeria. Issues relating to core bilateral relations between Nigeria and Cameroon fall directly under the purview of the Nigerian High Commission in Yaounde.
However, we all have it as duty to seek peace and live in peace everywhere and anywhere we find ourselves in the world. You have it a duty, I have it a duty, and everyone has it a duty to maintain peace in whatever community we find ourselves. If everyone lives in peace and seeks peace, there will be peace in the larger society. As I said earlier, we all should be agents and instruments of peace. Our watch word is “Peace and Diplomacy”. All that Nigeria wishes Cameroon is general peace.
Your Excellency, how do you feel, as a top diplomat serving in a crisis situation, as it’s the case in the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon?
You know Nigeria is the next door neighbor to Cameroon; the peace of Cameroon is the peace of Nigeria and vice-versa. When you neighbor’s house is on fire, your own house too is in danger. It is my earnest desire that there will be peace in Cameroon.
There is crisis everywhere in the world today; Nigeria, my country is no exception. I am praying and trusting God that the crisis in the Northwest and Southwest and other restive parts of the Republic will become a thing of the past. What message do you have for Nigerians living in the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon?
During my familiarization visits to public and traditional institutions, I was informed that Nigerians have been living peacefully with their host communities and do not in any way get involved in the ongoing crisis. I therefore wish to seize this opportunity to commend them and urge them to continue to be of good conduct, to go about their businesses peacefully and be law-abiding.
They are to please continue to be good image-makers for Nigeria wherever they are and in whatever they do. I also wish to employ this medium to reiterate that, they are not here to involve themselves in the internal affairs of Cameroon. They are to concentrate on their businesses, trade and other private activities they engage in for their livelihoods.
What do you have to say about economic cooperation between Cameroon and Nigeria?
Before the sudden outbreak of the novel COVID-19 and the ongoing twist in the spiraling Anglophone Crisis, economic cooperation between Nigeria and Cameroon had been robust. The geographical location of Cameroon has placed it as a strategic economic partner of Nigeria.
The Nigeria-Cameroon economic relations had improved over the years- especially in the area of trade and investment. There had also been an increase in the presence of Nigerian investors in Cameroon, such as Dangote Group, United Bank for Africa, Eco Bank and Air Peace Airline that have established their presence in Cameroon.
There is also a huge and vibrant number of small and medium enterprises owned by Nigerians living in Cameroon, most of who conduct their businesses at informal levels. There are many Nigerian goods like electronics, motor spare parts, cosmetics, building materials etc, that enter Cameroon on daily basis. There are also many Cameroonian products; especially foodstuffs like garri, eru, palm oil, spices, bananas, cocoyam etc that enter Nigeria via Idenau beach on daily basis.
Regrettably, however, official report between 2015 and 2019 shows that the value of trade exchanges between Nigeria and Cameroon dropped by 81% from XAF 15.6 billion to 2.9 billion. The reason for those significant drops is that the over 1500-km long border western Cameroon shares with Nigeria is close to the Northwest and Southwest regions affected by the Anglophone crisis, as well as Far North plagued by the war against Boko Haram. I hope there will be improvement when peace reigns and the closed borders are opened to facilitate cross-border trading activities.
Would you say your compatriots also feel at home here like you?
Of course! Just like I told you earlier when I paid a courtesy call to the Chief of Great Soppo, Buea ,he invited even the Nigerians living within that community, and they came. They even presented some cultural displays and so on. So they are virtually at home and they have been well received.
Your Excellency, what’s the numerical strength (population) of Nigerians in your jurisdiction?
The challenge we are having is that we don’t have the documented list in the Consulate. But we estimate that in the Northwest and Southwest regions Nigerians are almost two million.
Nigeria has a vibrant media. What is your assessment of the Cameroonian media, for the short time you have been here? I have to commend the media in Cameroon. You are trying your best particularly in the midst of a lot of challenges.
Looking at some English papers like The Guardian Post (publishing almost on daily basis), The Post and The Voice, I think they are really trying. And I have discovered that they are really timely in publishing some reports. And I think they should be really supported both by the public and the private sectors to ensure that they continue with their good job of informing, educating and alerting people.
Do you have an appeal to Cameroonian women and or the youth?
Well the only appeal I have for the youth in the Northwest and Southwest regions particularly for them to embrace peace-because without peace there won’t be any development. So the message I have for the youths, women and everyone is for them to embrace peace and then explore the option of peaceful resolution of all crises.
