Mkpoikana Udoma
The governor made the call when he played host to the Consuls General of both countries, saying plans were underway for the commencement of flight operations as well as marine transportation from Calabar to the Republic of Equatorial Guinea.
The governor stressed the need for aviation and maritime transportation between both countries through Cross River State.
He said: “I believe that your main aim is for us to build stronger ties with the Republic of Equatorial Guinea. At the moment, there are a lot of gaps we should be able to fill that would be mutually beneficial.
“We are planning to get some international flights that would be flying direct from Calabar to Equatorial Guinea. I believe it will do our commerce a lot of good. Statistically, Nigerians are the highest number of immigrants in Equatorial Guinea; and flying through Calabar to Equatorial Guinea is about 20-25 minutes, unlike other longer routes.
“The marine economy is also something that is majorly lacking. And what we need is a vessel that would convey cargo between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea directly. And there is a lot of cargo movement between these two countries.”
Earlier, the Consul General of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Mr Iideonso Ondo Mchama, said the visit was imperative to strengthen the relationship between his country, Nigeria and Cross River in particular.
In the same vein, Govenor Otu, who also received the Consul General of Cameroon, Mr Patrice Onana, noted that Nigeria and Cameroon have had a long long-standing relationship and there was need to strengthen it in the face of security threats that have undermined trade and commerce between both countries.
Otu said Cross River state was keen on boosting security, especially along its maritime corridor, welcoming a meeting of the Nigeria-Cameroon Mixed Commission with his counterpart across the border.
Earlier, the Cameroonian envoy, Patrice Onana, commended the Cross River State Government for hosting over 60, 000 Cameroonian refugees following the crisis in two of its 10 provinces.
Onana stressed that the visit is to maintain good collaboration with the State, assuring that the peaceable nature of Cross Riverians will not be abused.
The envoy also maintained that the long maritime border between both countries requires robust security collaboration to safeguard and boost trade and business.
