Cameroon shuts sea border against Nigeria over Ebola

Cameroon has shut its sea border against Nigeria possibly over the
spread of the dreaded Ebola virus.

Punch correspondent observed on Saturday at the Nigeria Inland
Waterways Jetty in Calabar, Cross River State, that stranded
passengers were unable to get vessel to ferry them to Cameroon.

Authorities of the NIWA jetty refused to comment on the development.

However, the passengers, who wore disappointing looks on their faces,
were seen discussing in clusters.

Those who volunteered to speak, after much pressure, said they were
instructed by security personnel at the Inland Waterways not to speak
to the press about the development.

One of them, Mr. Anthony Obi, appealed to the Federal Government to
intervene urgently, noting that the development would negatively
affect Nigerian traders doing business in Cameroon.

Obi said, "What I am suggesting is for the government of Nigeria to
take serious measure about it. Otherwise, Nigerian traders doing
business in that country will suffer."

He suggested that the Federal Government should mount an equipped
health post in the waterways.

The stranded passenger said such measure would go a long way to
assuring the government of Cameroon on the health status of intending
Nigerian passengers.

"I am suggesting that the government should take serious measure on
health screening; so that the people with good health can go about
their businesses," he said.

Obi, who could not continue with his trip to Cameroon, had no option
than to return back to his Anambra home state.

Also reacting, another Nigeria-Cameroonian businessman, Austin Chukwu,
called on the Federal Government to wade into the matter, as most
Nigerian traders have become worried as a result of the development.

Chukwu said, "I don't know what the Federal Government is doing about
it. We are using this medium to call on the Nigeria government to
intervene in this matter to alleviate the sufferings on the masses,
especially the Igbo traders.

PUNCH