By Ikome Christie-noella Eposi in Buea
Following the results of the first semester of the 2018 Public Investment Budget, PIB, for the Southwest region, it has been noted that the region has registered a bleak percentage of 15.27 percent instead of the supposed 50 percent realisation rate.
The revelation was made recently on July 31 in Buea, at a regional follow-up committee meeting on the execution of the Public Investment Budget, for projects based in the Southwest region. It should be noted that the regional delegate blamed the poor rate on the laxity of projects to be executed as well as the present crisis in the region. He talked on four main aspects that should be in mind for the effective realisation of Public Investment budgets; Quality, quantity, duration and allocation. He encouraged all stakeholders to fight against laxity in the execution of projects. Time he said is a very vital factor and should be used judiciously.
Breaking the realisation rate of the project by the six Divisions of the Southwest region, it shows that Fako, with a total of 91 projects, has a physical realisation rate of 21.69 percent, Kupe Muanenguba with 51 project has recorded 21 percent in physical realisation, Lebialem which was awarded 52 project has so far recorded a dismal 7.67 percent for physical realisation. For Manyu, it was awarded a total of 64 projects, and so far in to the first semester, it has realised 16.59 percent. Meme Division, awarded 69 projects has just a 9.69 percent in physical realisation. Ndian on its part, with 75 projects has a dismal record of 5.36 percent realisation rate. These all, alongside the regional vote holding committee with 30 projects and a 23.07 percent realisation rate, puts the figures at the regional level to 15.27 percent in physical realisation of the 432 projects awarded to the Southwest region.
In her speech, the Vice President of the Regional committee for the follow-up of the public investment budget, PIB, Agbor Meg largely blamed the poor results to the Anglophone crisis in the region, saying that it has crippled many aspects of life and also hampered the realisation rate of the Public Investment Budget in the region. She averred that the crisis has made “contractors timid in tendering for projects in the region”. She equally noted that the region has its peculiarities like heavy rains that usually slow down project realisation, but maintained that the crisis shoulders most of the blame.
In an interview granted to the press, she said that at the backbone of the crisis, the real problem is unemployment because people with skills are going about without jobs, thus making them to be idle and hungry, and that since a hungry man is also known to be an angry man, they can disrupt life, just in an effort to take control of the situation. She told participants that the realisation rate of the projects in the region is supposed to be at least at 50 per cent, insisting that “together, we can make a difference, and together, we will”.
On her projections for the next semester, she told journalists that she honestly cannot make any projections, given the volatile nature of things in the region, especially with the crisis that is still raging on and a solution still pending.