Home NEWS What Peace, Dev’t In Ndian Could Mean For Cameroon, Neighbouring Nigeria

What Peace, Dev’t In Ndian Could Mean For Cameroon, Neighbouring Nigeria

by Atlantic Chronicles

The  All  Ndian  Peace and  Development  Conference  has prompted  many  who heaved a sigh of relief  that  at  last, the time  has  come  for    peace  to    return  to the    oil-rich  Division.   The  hope  is  even  the  more  for  Ndian to  set  the  pace  for  a  new  peace  and  development  agenda which  impact  would be felt  nationwide.

Since  2016  the  Northwest  and  Southwest  regions  of  Cameroon  have  been dwindling in fortunes due  to  the Anglophone  Crisis. According  to  the  Armed  Conflict Location  and  Event  Data  Project, ACLED  the  Anglophone  Crisis  has  left 3,910  fatalities  while  there  are  over  573 900  internally  displaced  persons  in  the two  regions.  According  to  the United  Nations   Office  for  the Coordination  of    Humanitarian  Affairs, OCHA, there  are  over  700,000  children  and adolescents  out  of  school, and homes.  Many OCHA says, are at  risk  of  association  with  armed  groups, sexual  exploitation  and  early  pregnancies  presenting  high  susceptibility  to  radicalisation  and  other  social  vices.

Amongst  the  Divisions  in  the  Southwest  region  that  have  suffered  some  of the  most  damaging  impact  of  the  crisis  is the  Ndian  Division.  The  high  internal displacement,  kidnapping  and  stress  on already  limited  resources  is  causing social  tension  and  conflict  amongst  the sons  and  daughters  of  the  Division. High  rural  exodus  of  hardworking youths  has  left  the  Division  void  of  its most  promising  youths  while crippling  its powerful  agricultural  sector  in  the process. Persistent  acts  of  torture,  rape,  child abuse,  killing,  and  abduction  are  causing severe  physical,  psychological  and socio-economic  damage  to  the  population. The Ndian  Peace  and  Development Conference  has  set the  course  for  a  return  to  peace  and development  to  the  Division.

Ndian kinsmen and stakeholders at the peace and development conference

There  is  a  spike  in  the  rate  of  unwanted teenage  pregnancies  and  gender-based violence.  Disheartening  events  such  as the  recent  killing  of  three  students  and  a teacher  in  Government    Bilingual    High School,  GBHS,  Ekondo-Titi  has  only left  an  indelible  mark  of  trauma  on    the people  of  Ndian  as  a  whole   and   children in  particular. Development  experts  say,  the  All Ndian  Conference  is  a  veritable    gathering    that    will  change    the  tides  and  shape the  future    of  a    Division  that  has    potentials    that    can  benefit  the  entire  nation.

Aware  of  these  and  while  decrying  the actions  of  some  misguided  sons  and daughters  under  the  influence of  external  entities,    Ndian sons  and daughters    have  decided to take  their  destiny  into  their hands.  It is time for action and not talk, the Delegates said. It was against this backdrop  that  Ndian stakeholders decided to galvanise efforts and work together for peace and development.  This  way  to  engage  the  sons  and daughters  of  the  Ndian  Division  to undertake  a  diagnosis  of  the  problems and  challenges  facing  the  Division  and propose  sustainable  solutions. It  is  engaged  sons  and  daughters of  the  Ndian  Division  especially  those  in the  Diaspora  who  are  sympathetic  of  the separatist agenda  were beseeched to  cease  funding  and support  for  the  movement  and  divert their  energy  for  to  a  return  to  peace  in  the division.

The  conference  also served as an avenue for the Ndian natives  to chart  ways  for  community  development and  restoration  of  the  economic  growth of  the  Division  through  increased employment  of  youths.

Why Is  Ndian  Strategic and  Important?

It  is  without  controversy  that  the Ndian  Division  in  Cameroon  is  rich  in  all its  ramifications  and  this  must  not  be ignored.  Top  of  these  areas  is  the  Bakassi Peninsula  which  is  the  petrol  well    of  the nation.  There is also its  link  with  the National  Oil    Refining    Corporation, SONARA. We cannot forget about  PAMOL  in Ekondo  Titi.  It  is  also  blessed  with  resources  like  Cocoa  and  coffee. In  the world  market  there  was  a  high  demand for  oil  and  petrol  from  Ndian  through  the Bakassi  Peninsula.

Peace In Ndian, Salient Vector To Development

The  utmost  prayer  of  every Cameroonian  citizen  is  that  the  peace and  decorum  that  existed  in  Cameroon should  return  so  as  to  revive  the  economic  life  of  the  country. If  this  is  done,  Cameroon  will  benefit a  lot  in  terms  of  palm  oil  supply,  crude oil  drilling,    increase  in  smallholder farming  alongside   other    community activities    that    contribute  to  national growth.  In    the  end,    Ndian      with  its potential    has    the  capacity  to  improve Cameroon’s  Gross  Domestic  Product and    balance trade    deficit.

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