Nigeria’s CG to Southwest/Northwest Cameroon, Bappah gets Exequatur

The Nigeria Consul-General for the North West and South West regions of the Republic of Cameroon, Hon. Lawal Bappah, has been presented with an official letter of Exequatur by the Cameroon Governor of the South West region, Bernard Okalia Bilai.

Speaking during the official ceremony designated for the handing of the “Exequatur” to the newly appointed Nigerian Consul General, Bilai hailed the excellent diplomatic, economic, social relationship between both countries thus far.

According to him, the Republic of Cameroon has remained a strong ally and strategic partner to the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the African continent. “By choosing to be an ally of Cameroon, Nigerian Head of States have shown the world the kind of influence Cameroon has in trade and political relationship. However, it has not been without challenges of security but both nations continue to fight together,” he said.

Bilai said, both governments have continued to show resilience through the Trans-border Security committee.

“This expresses the zeal to maintain confraternity as people who have coexisted even before the establishment of both modern states,” he added.

Upon handing the Exequatur, the governor enjoined Consul Lawal to promote and conserve the economic dynamism of Nigeria in Cameroon and ensure the preservation of its interest as stipulated in the Exequatur, and coordinate the activities of the Nigerian community in his area of jurisdiction. He also called on Nigerians to always collaborate with the CG in the excise duty which is to be executed in strict compliance with the laws and regulations.

It was a colourful event that brought scores of regional administrative and traditional authorities together, such as the Nigeria High Commissioner to Cameroon, Amb. Abayomi Olonisakin, Consul General of Nigeria in Douala, Queen Efe Alexandra Clark-Omeru, Defense Adviser, Captain (NN) Bimbo Agunbiade, members of the Consular and Diplomatic Corps, members of the Nigerian community, collaborators of the governor, religious and traditional leaders, executive directors of companies and international organisations, Bappah’s wife, children, relatives among others.

In his remarks, CG Lawal Bappah counted it a great honour and privilege to have been graced by the presence of the Governor of the South West Region, H.E. Bernard Okalia Bilai, he expressed appreciation to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, and the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Geoffrey Onyeama for finding him worthy of appointment as the Consul General of Nigeria to the North West and South West Regions of the Republic of Cameroon. He also appreciated His Excellency Paul Biya, for graciously signing and transmitting his Exequatur through the Ministry of External Relations to the Governor of the South West Region.

“This benevolent act of the President of the Republic of Cameroon is a clear and undeniable expression of the excellent and unique bilateral relations that exist between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Republic of Cameroon,” he noted.

Consul Lawal did not leave out the contributions of the Nigerian foreign envoys to Cameroon to the success of his ceremony.

“I thank His Excellency Gabriel Abayomi Olanisakin, the High Commissioner of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Republic of Cameroon, HRM (Hon.) Queen Efe Alexandra Clark-Omeru, the Consul General of Nigeria to Littoral and West Regions of the Republic of Cameroon and all distinguished guests, both from within and outside Cameroon, who spared their precious time to attend today’s ceremony.

“Undoubtedly, the Republic of Cameroon is home away from home. It is in that light that I see it as a unique privilege for me to have been called to serve in the South West and North West Regions of the Republic of Cameroon to complement the efforts of our indefatigable High Commissioner with a view to strengthening and deepening bilateral relations with Republic of Cameroon; especially by addressing the consular needs of Nigerian nationals in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963,” said Bappah.

“As we continue to work and collaborate together in moving our two friendly countries forward, I wish to testify, without any reservation, that Buea is indeed a City of Legendary Hospitality and the entire Republic of Cameroon is Home away from Home,” Bappah concluded.

The newly installed CG H.E Lawal Bappah, was born on July, 2, 1962 in Bauchi State. Before coming to Cameroon he had served with the Nigerian foreign service at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the then secretary of the consular and immigration department from 1988-1991, he was later appointed as second secretary at consular officer at the Consulate of Nigeria in Kuwait, 1992-1995, from then he was appointed as first secretary and counselor at the directorate to the ministry of foreign affairs.

From 2003 to 2007, he was appointed Minister High Commissioner at the Nigerian Consul in Accra Ghana, other similar appointments and recognitions followed until his appointment as Nigerian Consul General for the South West and Northwest regions in 2021 following the departure of former Consul-General Ibrahim Bashir.