The General Manager of the Cameroon Development Corporation, Franklin Ngoni Njie has prescribed synergy between civil society and the army for the corporation to rejuvenate.
He made this statement on Wednesday March 5, 2025 at SS Club Bota, Limbe during the visit of the 33rd batch Nigeria defence college officials to his corporation.
“What, I think is very important in this mission is that the army and civil society should work in synergy in order to achieve rejuvenation of this corporation”,
“For development to take place, the army and the nation are supposed to be one. So, I see this visit of Nigerian defence academy as one that will foster security of our entity.
In his introductory statement, CDC GM, Franklin Ngoni Njie said Cameroon Development Corporation is a state-owned agro-industrial establishment that was incorporated on 1st January 1947 to acquire, develop and operate extensive plantations of tropical crops.
Producing 18,000 Tons of Natural Rubber annually on 22,000 hectares in 11 Estates and 3 Rubber Factories in the South West and Littoral Regions employing a total of 20,000.
“We produce above 20,000 Tons of Palm Oil annually on 15,000 hectares in 7 Estates and 3 Palm Oil Mills in the South West Region employing a total of 4,300 workers. We also produce about 110,000 Tons of Banana annually on 3,715 hectares” Franklin Ngoni said.
He added that CDC has learnt firsthand, the important role that security plays in Agriculture.
“The insecurity emanating from the socio-political crisis rocking the South West and North West regions since 2016 is the biggest threat that the Corporation has had to experience in her 78 year lifespan. Never before has the very existence of the CDC been so seriously threatened.” CDC GM lamented.
He added that there have been numerous attacks on their workers, assets and installations as well as on forces of law & order and defense forces. With more than twenty five (25) workers killed.
He added that In its 78 year history the CDC has survived fatal economic winds, like the periodic fall of commodity prices below cost of production, which closed down many other companies.
It only thanks to the godfather role the government has played at such times to sacrifices and continued hard work of the loyal workforce.
“Our Office and residential buildings and processing units have been vandalized. A serious rural exodus has been experienced with thousands of workers escaping from the very dangerous remote Units to the less insecure central Units in the Bota and Tiko area. About 12000 workers were not able to work as a result of insecurity” CDC GM Franklin Njie said.
Quizzed on the way forward, Franklin Ngoni said; There will be a further improvement this year but it will not yet satisfactorily address the serious impasse posed by the total disequilibrium between incompressible commitments and total revenue. Since the only way to return to sustainability is to increase production and revenue”.
On his part, the leader of the delegation of Nigeria team leader of the National Defence College Regional Study Team to Cameroon by the participants of Course 33 said their mission is to equip future leaders with adequate skills and knowledge to enable them harness instrument of National power.
He however appreciated the consulate general for Nigeria in Cameroon for his warm reception and CDC GM for his hospitality gesture during their visit to CDC
It should be noted that before meeting at CDC SS Club for exchange between CDC and the Defence College officials there was a brief stop at likomba sone rubber estate( Rubber and factory) Bota palms and Banana production unit at Mpongo.
With the visit of the National defence college of Nigeria, pundits believe that the corporation will take another swift of acceleration in it activities as security will be beef-up.
BY SIMON NDIVE KALLA
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Cross section of Nigeria defence college pose with CDC GM
CDC GM Franklin Ngoni Njie addressing visitors
CDC GM addressing visitors at Tiko rubber factory
Cross section of Nigeria defence college visitors
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