MAETUR records another landmark achievement in creating housing estates!.

The institution has recorded another milestone in this direction with the presentation of what it now describes as a “living environment” for the population living along the Yaounde-Nsimalen Motorway.

The site, with about 500 plots, being designed and equipped with eco-friendly manner with all basic amenities, is found in Ngoulmekong, in Bikok Subdivision, Mefou and Akono Division of the Centre Region.

It is fruit of a partnership agreement signed between MAETUR and Bikok Council in October 2022.

It is located south of the nation’s capital city, Yaoundé, 2km from Nsimalen International Airport, 15 minutes from downtown Yaounde via Yaounde-Nsimalen Motorway.

The site was officially presented to the public during a ceremony in Ngoulmekong Monday September 11. The ceremony was also used to officially install members of the Ngoulmekong communal brigade to work at the site.

The event, presided over by the Senior Divisional Officer, SDO, of Mefou and Akono, Antoinette J. Zongo, had in attendance the Divisional Officer, DO, of Bikok, the Mayor of Bikok Council, representatives of the Ministers of Housing and Urban Development and that of State Property, Surveys and Land Tenure and other stakeholders in land, housing, urban development and planning sectors.

Also present was the Chairman of the Board of Directors of MAETUR, Djamal Mustapha, traditional rulers of Ngoulmekong and Ntoun villages, City Mayor of Limbe, the Mayors of Yaounde III, IV alongside other administrative and municipal authorities.

Enter MAETUR General Manager

Addressing guests at the ceremony, the General Manager of MAETUR, Louis Roger Manga, said the site is “more than just plots, but a secure, structured and sustainable living environment”.

He said the realisation of the project is fruit of collaboration with several partners, the local population and their traditional rulers as well as administrative and municipal authorities, which dates back to about 15 years, from when accessing the site was done from the banks of River Mefou on foot, using a culvert made of two tree trunks.

Manga also singled out the collaboration and strong commitment of Bikok Council, led by Mayor Crescence Ottou to make the Ngoulmekong living environment one of the most pleasant areas around the capital city.

“We share this ambition, and remain convinced that it is an achievable goal…I hope you will agree that a great step has been taken, and that the achievements remain to be consolidated and preserved. We are convinced that this challenge can and must be met thanks to the continued collaboration we enjoy today,” MAETUR boss said.

He also appreciated the efforts of administrative authorities, banking sector and particularly BICEC bank, which provided the financing needed to build the infrastructure seen on the site, as well as ENEO, CAMWATER, public works companies, and the State represented by structures of MINDCAF and MINHDU.

Turning point in MAETUR’s vision

The General Manager said the realisation of work at the Ngoulmekong site “marks a turning point in MAETUR's vision for the creation of housing estates”.

Manga said the turnaround was necessary, given an environment characterised by dwindling state resources on the one hand, the experience gained from previous housing estates created by MAETUR, and the need to protect the environment and guard against the risks associated with climate change.

Financial package for the project, MAETUR General Manager disclosed, was drawn up based essentially on private contributions.

Added to improving the quality of traditional infrastructure such as roads, water, electricity, among others, MAETUR, the General Manager added, has also embarked on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, in line with government’s commitment.

Manga said though MAETUR remains a developer, the institution has “become more involved in the quality of the built environment, focusing on quality and functionality” with detailed specifications to which its customers and users “must commit”.

He stated that MAETUR believes that to create a good neighbourhood, “it's not enough to have lots of beautiful houses; they also have to blend harmoniously with each other and with the landscape”.

It is on this that the General Manager said MAETUR now prefers to use the term "living environment" rather than "housing estate" in referring to the sites.  

SDO says project fruit of decentralisation

In her scripted address, Mefou and Akono SDO, Antoinette J. Zongo, saluted MAETUR GM for choosing her administrative unit for the project.

She said the project, which is fruit of decentralisation, comes in timely to help curb recurrent news of catastrophes such as floods, landslides, unorthodox occupation of public and private state land, all linked to citizens’ failures to work in conformity with construction norms and planning guidelines.

Zongo hailed the Mayor of Bikok for her endless efforts in diversifying partnerships with the goal of transforming the urban morphology of her municipality.

She said MAETUR’s housing project will participate in ameliorating the living conditions of the population through the several facilities offered by MAETUR.

The senior civil administrator urged members of the Ngoulmekong communal brigade to show high moral standards and exemplary behaviour and fully execute the assignment they have been given to be able to successfully take care of the housing estate.

She also called on parties involved to fully respect the convention that they signed and the tasks assigned to them.

Bikok mayor says project to bring more dev’t

Welcoming guests earlier, the Mayor of Bikok Council, Crescence Ottou, said the MAETUR project has hugely contributed to putting at their disposal viable land and facilities aimed at ameliorating the living conditions of the population.

The mayor said the project is a blessing to the municipality, which prides self with more serene environment, green and void of any sort of pollution from the capital city.

The municipal authority said the project falls squarely with the development-driven agenda of the municipality and will favour more positive developments and contribute to ameliorating the living conditions of the local population.

The mayor appealed for the preservation of the historic facilities and archives of the community as the work extends on the site.

About Ngoulmekong Housing Estate

It is located south of the city of Yaoundé, 2km from Nsimalen International Airport, 15 minutes from downtown via the Yaoundé-Nsimalen Motorway, in a densely planted Subdivision to cool the ambient temperature.

The site is surrounded by a green belt, soon to be an urban forest. It has 467 lots with available plot sizes including 300m2, 600m2, 800m2 and more. It is equipped with amenities including asphalted roads, drinking water, electricity etc.

Other amenities envisaged include shopping centre, sports facilities, education and health facilities, etc. Construction and use of plots on the site are done in compliance with zoning plan defining the intended use of each lot, as well as height, number of storeys, setbacks, etc.

In a bid to ensure optimisation and harmonisation of the site's overall architecture, solar street lighting, vertical and horizontal road signs, shaded sidewalks, recreation and relaxation areas along the Mefou River have been envisaged.

It has an available team of urban planners and consultants to support customers and ensure their project is carried out in optimum harmony.