Meme SDO accused of legitimising smuggling of cocoa to Nigeria!.

This follows an order of the Senior Divisional Officer, SDO, of Meme Division, Ntou’ou Ndong Chamberlin, imposing military escort on trucks that transport cocoa from Kumba in Meme Division to Mamfe in Manyu Division. 

The move, which the SDO claims aims to avert attacks from separatist fighters on trucks, has been greeted by catcalls.

The administrator’s decision has been described by those in the cocoa chain as indirectly legitimising the smuggling of cocoa from the South West Region to Nigeria. 

This is so as the decision comes at a time local administrative authorities and security officers of the Region have repeatedly been blamed for allegedly working to ease clandestine cocoa export with those involved in the illicit practice. 

Specifics of controversial decision

The SDO’s order, which has been described by analysts as infamous, was passed September 29, 2023. It is addressed to all heads of defence and security forces in Kumba.

The note with reference No. G.39/SAAJP/411/2023, has as subject: “Commercialisation of cocoa products between Kumba and Mamfe”. 

The SDO, in the highly criticised order, explained that the move is “due to numerous secessionist attacks against vehicles transporting cocoa on the national road N°8 between Kumba and Mamfe”.

Through the repeated attacks, the administrator said: “It is established that the abovementioned criminal activity procures to Ambazonian fighters some financial means to purchase arms and ammunitions”.

Ntou’ou Ndong informed security operatives under his area of command that it is in this regard that “the circulation of vehicles transporting cocoa products on the National Road N°8, without Defense Forces escort is prohibited till further notice between Kumba and Mamfe”.

He described his order as an “important measure aimed at stopping an important financing source of terrorist activities”.

“Contact my service for security escort”

While counting on the usual collaboration of the heads of defence and security forces in Kumba, the administrator insisted that “all business people concerned with transportation of cocoa products from Kumba to Mamfe, shall contact my service, in order to have at their disposal the necessary defense forces, prior to the journey on the said road”. 

Gov’t & battle to curb illicit cocoa export

The decision of the SDO, it should be said, comes at a time government, has, through the Ministry of Trade, been involved in concerted actions to curb illicit cocoa export to Nigeria.

Trade Minister, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, is reported to have chaired a meeting grouping key actors in the cocoa chain last September 28.

The focus of the meeting, we learned, was to examine the second part of the report on the feasibility study for the establishment of a national traceability system for cocoa of Cameroun origin. 

We further gleaned that in order not to continue losing billions to the illicit trade, competent state authorities concerned with the sector are preparing a text to ensure all those involved in the trade pay all their taxes and levies. 

SDO’s decision sparks controversy 

The decision, which the SDO noted, aims to thwart fundraising mechanisms devised by separatist fighters, has, however, sparked controversy. 

To many analysts who are versed with the disturbing situation of illicit cocoa export to Nigeria in the South West Region, the move taken by the SDO is just another avenue to further milk vulnerable truck drivers and actors in the cocoa chain. 

Security officers fingered 

The Guardian Post has also been hinted by authoritative sources on the ground that most security officers are now allegedly involved in the whole network of clandestine cocoa export to Nigeria. This, we learnt, is done with the alleged blessing of administrative authorities. 

Such booming black market has been persisting despite the ban on export of cocoa from Cameroon to neighbouring Nigeria by the Minister of Trade. 

Prior to the SDO’s decision to impose escort on transporters, we gathered from credible sources that most trucks were being loaded with bags of cocoa while other goods are put at the top. 

The trick, it is said, is to outwit the intelligence of customs officers who have been fighting to curb the illicit trade. 

The security officers involved in this, we further gleaned, escort such trucks right up to the borders to prevent the vehicles from being impounded. 

Other security officers, we gathered, are also into brisk business as the black market thrives in the region.

Our sources further detailed that the situation has taken a disturbing dimension with security officers now seizing huge quantities of cocoa from those involved in the black market. 

The uniformed officers are said to be later selling their ‘loot’ at giveaway prices and lining their pockets with the proceeds.

SDO pitting truck drivers, cocoa dealers against Amba fighters?

With the complex security situation on the ground, truck drivers and most dealers in cocoa sector say the decision of the SDO is further putting them in the difficult corner with separatist fighters. 

Most of them have lamented that driving in security escort will instead put them in the bad books of separatist fighters.

Drivers lament that driving in the company of security escorts will see them being labelled by separatist as ‘black legs’. 

They say, the consequence as it has been since the armed conflict in the North West and South West regions erupted is that, they will later be targeted by Amba fighters. 

Truck drivers and cocoa dealers see the decision as rather creating more problems than being a solution.

Some told The Guardian Post that, they have been going about their businesses with very little problem with separatist fighters. 

They said the situation is easier when they respect the traditional ghost town days and other lockdowns imposed by the Amba fighters. 

Cocoa dealers lament huge losses 

Local cocoa buyers and other actors in the processing chain have also condemned the decision of the SDO which they say will rather make them to further incur huge losses.

A cocoa dealer in Kumba who refused to be named for security reasons said cocoa beans is perishable and delays that might occur while waiting for security escorts will instead affect the quality of the product.

The issue of military escort, which had earlier been instituted but later failed, the dealer said, will still be a total failure. 

The source argued that they are days they might plan to travel in such escorts but the soldiers might not be available as they may be involved in one or two interventions if need arises. 

Dealers have warned that, the move, if not reversed will instead destabilize cocoa business in the region.

This, they argued and strongly so, is due to the fact that Meme Division where the order has been passed is a road corridor for cocoa from Kupe-Muanenguba, Ndian, Manyu divisions.  

The decision, they further argued, will worsen the already bad situation of producers and further drag them down the poverty line. 

They also questioned why the decision of Meme SDO talks of transportation of cocoa from Kumba to Mamfe when there is no cocoa processing facility nor ports in that part of the country. 

Tussle between administrative, security officials 

Worth recalling is the fact that last June 19, 2023, at least eight trucks fully loaded with cocoa beans that were being clandestinely exported to Nigeria, were impounded by officers of the South West Customs Sector in collaboration with soldiers.

Two of the trucks were intercepted in the locality of Besongabang in Mamfe Central Subdivision while six others were interrupted in Eyumojock and Ekok, in Eyumojock Subdivision. 

The Guardian Post later got it on good authority that disagreements had erupted, days later between administrative authorities of the Region and Customs officers over the impounded trucks loaded with cocoa.

We gathered that instructions had been given by an authority in Buea, for the trucks to be clandestinely taken from Mamfe. 

The trucks, we gathered, were again intercepted and impounded by Customs officers at the Ekok exit checkpoint. This, we gathered, has been causing tension between administrative authorities and Customs officers, who are bent on curbing illicit trade. 

The porous borders between Cameroon and Nigeria and the competitive prices charged by Nigerian buyers, have also been blamed on the worsening black market in the sector within the Region. 

What Cameroon is losing to illicit export 

At least 60,000 to 70,000 metric tonnes of cocoa is estimated to have been moved to Nigeria from Cameroon during the last year. 

Fears are now rife that this estimate might increase to 90,000 metric tonnes this year if urgent actions are not taken. 

Also, the government is said to be losing approximately 140 billion on foreign exchange to the illicit trade. 

Experts also estimate that about 7 billion FCFA is loss in customs revenue, 5 billion FCFA loss in other levies and 3.5 billion FCFA on corporate tax. 

If the sector is abandoned to Nigerians, stakeholders said productivity will drop sharply due to inability of farmers to save money for the purchase of inputs. 

The situation has led to unfair competition as local companies are unable to compete due to unhealthy market practices. 

This has diverted income from the balance sheets of legitimate businesses, undermined job creation and poses a risk to existing local companies, others say.