Counter-terrorism to top agenda of Nigerian president's visit to Cameroon

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday jetted out to hold consultative talks with his Cameroonian counterpart, Paul Biya, in a continued effort to create a more robust regional effort against Boko Haram.

In a statement, presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, said the Nigerian leader and the president of Cameroon will, during the meeting in Yaounde, focus on the full activation and deployment of the multinational joint task force against Boko Haram, established under the auspices of the Lake Chad Basin Commission.

Buhari was accompanied on the trip by Nigeria's top defense officials and six governors who are expected to discuss further joint measures to curb cross-border crimes, violent extremism and terrorism, with the Cameroonian president and government officials.

The two-day visit to Yaounde will also afford Buhari the opportunity to meet with Nigerians living in Cameroon, the presidential spokesman said.

En route Abuja, after his two-day visit to Cameroon, the Nigerian leader will undertake a day trip to Benin Republic on Saturday for talks with President Boni Yayi, to strengthen regional cooperation against terrorism and make it much harder for Boko Haram to operate across national boundaries, Adesina added.

He said the visit to Benin Republic will round off diplomatic shuttles to neighboring countries, which Buhari embarked upon on assumption of office in May. Endit