BY ATIA TILARIOUS AZOHNWI
Officials of Alliance Construction working on the low cost housing project in Buea have attributed the delays in delivering the project within the prescribed deadline to the unrests that have since enveloped the North West and South West Regions.
The construction of 100 social housing units and associate socio-cultural support structures was scheduled to run from January 1, 2017 to June 23, 2018.
As at April 27, 2018 when the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Jean Claude Mbwentchou came to visit projects under president Biya’s triennial emergency plan, the low cost housing project in Buea was only at 36 per cent realisation with 89% of the time consumed.
The over FCFA 4.4 billion project that spans a five-hectare land surface is said to have been stalled by not only insecurity that has come with the socio-political unrests, but also the interruption of internet and heavy rains in 2017. Late payment of workers and a change of sub-contractor also delayed the project execution.
After touring the project site at the Molyko New Layout, Minister Jean Claude Mbwentchou gave the construction company until the end of September 2018 to deliver the project.
The low cost housing project is a government initiative to provide civil servants with minimum cost housing services.
In Limbe, Minister Mbwencthou said the low cost housing project at Middle Farms is completed and now ready for inauguration.
The minister also visited several streets in Buea and Limbe. He declared both towns as the cleanest in the country, urging the population and the councils to continue making both cities a reference.
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development also visited the parking lots at the Limbe Omnisport Stadium where work is said to be complete.
While in Buea, the minister ordered that the road linking Buea Town to Buea Council through the mosque will be made passable. The road leading to the Buea Mayor’s house will also be attended to.
The Government Delegate to the Limbe City Council treated the minister’s delegation to a lunch that drew the curtains to the 24-hour visit.