By Wambo Emmanuel and Mokum Thomas
The Bamenda-Babadjou road that has been a nightmare for commuters of that stretch of road will finally see the light of day in no more than (24) twenty four months after the minister of Public Works, Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi recently launched the construction works on the 35 kilometers of national road. The project is estimated to cost circa FCFA 60.7Bn.
During the launching of the 35 km road including another 17 km main road across Bamenda town, Minister Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi, however described the giant project as a move by President Paul Biya, to ensure national unity and sub—regional integration.
The reconstruction work will be divided into three phases; the first phase will be from Babadjou to the gateway to Bamenda. The second phase is the Bamenda cliff bypass And the third phase will be the construction of 12 kilometers inner-city road from Up Station through Ngeng to Amour Mezam and from Ngeng junction to Hospital roundabout passing through City Chemist and T-junction.
It should be noted that the reconstruction work of the Babadjou—Bamenda road including the Bamenda urban network is a joint project financed by the World Bank and the state. Public works minister said during the launch that the project is aimed at improving road transport safety and security by way of reducing transport cost. According to Minister Emmanuel Nganou Njoumessi, the project will last for a period of 24 months. He went further that the construction work of the Babadjou—Bamenda stretch has the same geometrical characteristic as those of the national road number 3 and it is a stretch of national road number 6.
While pointing out that a component of the programme is for the development and security of transport infrastructures, he also noted that the program is also aimed at resolving two major priorities; carrying out investment essential for the preservation of existing infrastructures and above all, to reinforce security and develop the capacity of institutions in the transport sector. This, he said, will enable them better plan and manage the infrastructures and services which are needed to support the economic objective of Cameroon’s growth and employment as indicated in the growth and employment strategy paper.
Beside the construction work of the Babadjou-Bamenda road to be carried out by a renounced construction company SOGE SATOM, Minister Emmanuel Nganou Njoumessi happily announced that many project within the framework of the programme for the pavement of medium traffic roads are currently underway in the North West Region. He furthered that the government intends to improve on earthworks, double surface dressing and the development of drainage structures. He said government policies toward the development of any community are sure and steady and called on the population to assist the contractors for the better realization of the various contracts.
Earlier, the mayor of Santa council Khan Elroy Moses saluted the launching of the road by the public works minister as a relief to the population of the region and visitors. He urged government to put all the dispositions available to ensure the respect of the deadlines by the contractors. The mayor assured the physical, financial and spiritual collaboration of the population of the Northwest region. Meanwhile other speakers during the launching ceremony included the representative of the World Bank who said the World Bank had made available funds expected of them for the realization of the Babadjou—Bamenda stretch of road.