Economic Confidential

In order to mitigate the reoccurrence of flooding that ravaged many parts of the country in 2012 , the Nigerian Government and her Cameroonian counterpart have engaged in the 1st Cameroon / Nigeria Expert meeting on Water Resources in the Trans-Boundary Benue River Basin and Electricity Related Issue in Yaoundé, Cameroon ,27-28 December 2012.

The Agreed Minutes issued and signed by representatives of both countries at the end of the two- day meeting stressed the urgent need to cooperate in management of the shared basin to minimise the impact of flood incidence, which affected both countries during 2012 wet season.

The minutes further explained that the two countries have acknowledged the importance of building more hydraulic structures on the tributaries of the Benue River. They also agreed on the establishment of framework for exchange of hydro-meteorological and environmental data, joint technical site visit, studies and research, setting up of early warning notification and response mechanism between the two countries.

The minutes also noted that both countries agreed that cooperation in the area of water resources should take into account the Niger Basin Authority Water Charter.

However to facilitate the process of realising the shared vision process of the Niger Basin Authority, Nigeria suggested that the two countries should sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the management and development of the Trans-boundary River Basin with details worked out by a joint committee of Expert from the two countries. The joint committee it was also suggested should be responsible to undertake full implementation of the MOU.

On Lagdo hydro-electric dam, both sides agreed on a stronger framework on sharing information on the necessary water release of the dam as a way of preventing dam break. The need for the Nigerian side to build a corresponding hydraulic structure (dam) to regulate the flows of water on River Benue was also emphasised.

On Lake Nyos, the two countries agreed to regularly share information on the situation and undertake joint technical field trip to all the potential areas of impact from the lake.

The Nigeria delegation was led by Mr. John Shamonda, Director General Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) while the Cameroonian delegation was led by His Excellency Mbayu Felix, Secretary General, Ministry of External Relation.