Ahead of planned expansion: Douala Port Authority engages Missole population on potential benefits.

This was the focus of a meeting that took place in Missole I, on Wednesday June 19. The team which was on an enquiry and evaluation mission was led by the Senior Divisional Officer, SDO, of the Sanaga Maritime Division, Cyrille Yvan Abondo.

The officials discussed with inhabitants of the locality about the planned expansion project. The area in question, is a 500 hectares land, situated along the banks of the Dibamba River. 

It had been declared as a public utility following a May 15, 2024, decision of the Minister of State Property, Surveys and Land Tenure, Henri Eyebe Ayissi, in favour of PAD . 

The administrative act gave green light for the construction of infrastructure for industrial and logistical activities in the locality of Missole I. 

Located approximately 30km from Douala at the East entrance of the city, the locality of Missole, it was said, will serve as a merchandises parking area, taking into account the increasingly significant flow of goods and traffic observed at the Port recently

It should be recalled that PAD has undertaken major works to modernize its infrastructure since 2016. It has been diversifying its reception capacity. 

It was for this reason that the representative of the Director General of PAD, Sylvestre Mezatio, noted that they had made a request to government for provision of land.

Mezatio who is Technical Advisor to PAD Director General during the meeting, emphasized that the development of

High-quality port infrastructure, operated efficiently is a prerequisite for successful growth strategies, particularly those driven by exports.

When done correctly, he said, it fosters the necessary confidence to attract investment in production and distribution systems. He also said the expansion will create employment and increase income.

Mezatio did not fail to inform the locals that PAD has done due diligence by undertaking its Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, seriously. 

PAD ready to compensate property owners

He assured population that each person affected, everyone having a land title, farm, house or any form of property will be indemnified.

He, however, maintained that the population will be the first beneficiaries of the employment opportunities that the logistics zone will bring. 

Mezatio, however, reminded that there can be no development without destruction. He thanked the Head of State, President Paul Biya for granting PAD’s expansion request.

Towards making real PAD’s agenda 20250

According to the Head of Prospective and Corporations at PAD, Joseph Nguene Nteppe, the project falls in line with the Port’s 30-year development agenda to be capped in 2050.

Nteppe indicated that the expansion vision is, “focused on two parts; firstly, to improve on the existing port area. The first phase of this development plan is to expand the port’s facility out of Douala because we have a problem of land insufficiency. So the project will develop an industrial Zone in Misole”. He disclosed that the project is expected to create 15,000 jobs.

Project ties with 2020-2030 National Dev’t Strategy

The official also situated the project within the 2020-2030 National Development Strategy, SND30 of government.

Going by Nteppe, at the moment, findings show that, “the East Entrance into Douala is being plied by over 1,000 trucks daily. This it was said will greatly reduce when the Misole logistics zone will be fully developed”. 

He also declared that, “there are plans to construct a railway and additional subways. There will be a direct link to the Douala Port and the Misole Logistics Zone through the Dibamba River”.

SDO enjoins population to corporate

Speaking at the event, the SDO of the Sanaga Maritime Division, Cyrille Yvan Abondo, urged the population of Misloe to corporate for the success of the project.

The administrator indicated that, the first idea was River Wouri   but due to certain constraints, “that is how the Dibamba and Misole habour was selected. So, I am calling on you all to corporate”.

Abondo also advised locals to train their children in trades that will land them jobs once the expansion project is completed. He also warned against the sale of public land to private individuals.

The SDO further reiterated that affected persons will be indemnified. 

“We have taken their preoccupations into consideration as regards the environmental impact of the project,” Abondo declared.

Residents welcome project

Some residents of Misole hailed the project. One of them, Mballa Eluma, who is president of the Misole Diaspora Youths, welcomed the initiative but said the project will destroy farmlands.

Eluma told the authorities that, he has rallied his peers to also create companies in Misole following the new development project of PAD.

Bombi Zigfried, a notable on his part said PAD, “a not a small company. We know about its reputation. The expansion of such a great company to our area will transform it to a city and our children will have jobs if they are trained. I want development. I don’t want to listen to distractions”.

The story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No: 3145 of Friday June 21, 2024