World Bank approves 30 billion FCFA for roads in Bamenda.

This was via a statement which has been making the rounds on social media and seen by The Guardian Post.

The development comes amidst growing concerns over the state of roads in Bamenda. The long-awaited funding has come as a sigh of relief to commuters in city, who, at the moment, have been facing difficulties accessing parts of the metropolis.

The state of roads in Bamenda have for years now been a source of public anger. Degraded portions of roads in the city have since degenerated into crater lakes, rendering movements within and out of the city almost impossible.

Following the approval of the World Bank funding, hopes are now alive that the road network in the city will largely be improved upon.

In announcing the funding for the major roads in Bamenda, the Public Works Minister disclosed that the initiative is part of the rehabilitation of the Babadjou-Bamenda road, which is currently under construction.

He said the funding was approved on June 14, 2024, by the Breton Woods Institution. The additional funding of 30 billion FCFA was approved by the World Bank's Board of Executive Directors.

The colossal sum, the minister said, will be used to rehabilitate the Bamenda urban crossing, Amour Mezam Junction to Finance Junction, Veterinary Junction to T-Junction, Hospital Roundabout to Food Market and the City Chemist Roundabout to Veterinary Junction sections stretching over 6.538 km. 

The government official disclosed that the additional funding will cover the widening of the cross-section of the said urban crossing from 17 to 30 m, as expressly requested to the Head of State by the population concerned. 

“It is worth noting that the remaining works on this chain of the Bamenda- Babadjou major road will start before the end of the year 2024, to make the commitment of the Head of State, His Excellency Paul Biya, to modernise road infrastructure in the North West Region a reality. This plays a key role in normalising the socio- political context in the area,” the minister’s statement reads.

The execution of the project, the minister said, will decongest the city of Bamenda and enable smooth traffic flow on the section of the Yaounde-Bamenda-Mamfe-Ekok/Mfum-Abakaliki-Enugu corridor (438 km), which has already been paved. 

To ensure the continuity of the ongoing works on the Babadjou-Bamenda Road, Minister Djoumessi said the recruitment of the contractor and the control mission in charge of works is under way.

He said continuation of activities of the Complaints Management Mechanism and the Third-Party Monitoring are also included in the additional funding. 

“These are frameworks for dialogue, which involve the local population in the decision-making as part of the execution of works,” the minister said, adding that: “…works have been completed on the Babadjou-Matazem section (17 km) and are smoothly being executed in the Matazem- Welcome to Bamenda (18 km), Welcome to Bamenda-Ecole des Champions (4.930 km) and Ecole des Champions-Amour Mezam (4,5 km) sections, to be completed during this year 2024”.

Babadjou-Bamenda road nearing completion

Work on the first section of the Babadjou-Bamenda road, it should be said, is almost complete. 

The project is nearing completion, both on the main Babadjou-Bamenda road and on related projects. 

The related projects are being carried out to bring relief to local residents, both in terms of their mobility and the transportation of goods and services. 

The routes concerned are the Toumaka-Bafenga-Bamekoupere road, which is 8.8 km long, and the Carrefour Peter Madem road with an entrance ramp to the Catholic Mission St. Charles Lwanga-Bawa Chefferie, which is 1.7 km long. 

Funding of 1,162,880,190 FCFA and 195,599,400 FCFA respectively, have been provided for the said projects. 

The almost completed construction of a 2x3, 5x2, 5 gutter on the Tchi Neuh river, 7m long at Bamendousso, will also enable people to cross the watercourse in complete safety.

With regards the two routes, it should be noted that the clearing of the right-of-way, the earthworks, the laying of the lateritic gravel sub-base, the concrete base course and the two-layer surfacing have all been completed over 10.5 km. 

The nine prefabricated culverts planned for the two routes have also been laid, while the planned culvert has been built.

As for the progress of work on the Babadjou-Matazem section (17 km), as at 19 June 2024, works had been completed at a rate of 99.5%. 

The clean-up work, the clearing of the right-of-way, the sub-base course, the base course in gravel tar, the impregnation, the surfacing of the shoulders and the road markings have all been completed on the 17 km section.

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