NW, SW reconstruction: PM salutes strides, drums fresh commitment to achieve Biya's dream.

He made the declaration in Buea, last Friday, May 30. This was during the sixth session of the Steering Committee of the Presidential Plan for the Reconstruction and Development of the North West and South West Regions, PPRD-NW/SW.

The meeting was attended by the Ministers of Finance, Decentralisation and Local Development, ministers from Anglophone extraction, the Governors of the two Regions, elite, religious and traditional authorities.

Addressing stakeholders, the Prime Minister noted that peace in the two English-speaking Regions may be fragile, but progress achieved remains undeniable. He saluted the slow but steady return of serenity across cities, towns and villages in the two Regions.

“…this progress is not accidental…it is the result of deliberate, inclusive government action addressing long-standing grievances, as charted during the Major National Dialogue,” the Prime Minister noted.

He said government has never wavered in its commitment to the legitimate aspirations of the English-speaking populations. 

“Before, during, and after the Major National Dialogue, concrete measures were taken. Today is a testament to that continued resolve,” he declared, adding that: “We are not where we used to be. We are moving together”. 

The Head of Government stressed the need for work to be intensified to effectively realised inclusive projects.

It is worth noting that within the contest of the 6^th PPRD-NW/SW Steering Committee session that held in Buea, the PM took time off to visit ongoing works at GTHS Ombe. 

Drums more support to PPRD 

The Head of Government said in all the Subdivisions of the North West and South West Regions, great things are happening because of the PPRD. Dion Ngute said there is need to do more. 

The Prime Minister underscored that “…the needs are huge, and the resources are not as much, but the government is doing everything it can to empower these Regions. That is why meticulous planning is required”.

He invited friendly countries and other stakeholders to join the ship to give dignity to people in the two Regions, while also contributing to eliminate terrorism and acts of banditry. 

“Wherever these projects have been carried out effectively, we have realised that disturbances have receded, so we must appeal to our partners, friendly countries, to step in and help us,” he said.

Delight in progress five years on

Speaking to the press after the session, the Prime Minister said he was satisfied with the achievements of the plan five years on. 

He stressed that the decision to increase the number of implementing partners was to expand the project’s reach and ensure ownership of the projects by beneficiaries through representatives.

He challenged local authorities and Presidents of Regional Assemblies to work to restore and improve the living conditions of people impacted by the crisis. 

Dion Ngute also asked them to help boost development in the North West and South West Regions.

Reviewing 2024 gains

During the meeting, participants evaluated the PPRD-NW/SW 2024 roadmap and adopted a work plan for 2025 to guide implementing partners. 

Officials noted that in 2024, the PPRD budgeted just over 30 billion FCFA for the two Regions, and just above 21 billion FCFA was spent.

Officials disclosed that in 2024, PPRD rehabilitated 99 schools, 39 health facilities, 39 water points and four bridges in the two Regions. 

In terms of revitalising the local economy, it was made public during the meeting that some 1,725 hectares of farmland was rehabilitated, 2,461 farmers supported, 67 innovative production and transformation units supported.

Additionally, stakeholders were told that 33 markets were reconstructed, 104 agro-pastoral groups were supported, together with 171 agro-pastoralists and 321 youth groups.

Envisaged projects

For envisaged projects, it was stated that in 2024, the plan envisaged the Ring Road in the North West Region, worth 89 billion FCFA; Bamenda-Babadjou road, 80 billion FCFA; Bamenda urban crossing and upcoming works on the Bamenda urban roads; worth 30 billion, Kumba-Ekondo Titi road, worth 40 billion; Bangem-Nguti road, worth 41 billion FCFA and Kumba-Mamfe road, worth 85 billion FCFA.

The PPRD-NW/SW Steering Committee President, Paul Tasong, said a shortfall in resource mobilisation, security and access barriers, non-exhaustiveness of the database and project rescoping formed major hurdles.

Ambitious 2025 PPRD roadmap

Minister Tasong laid out an ambitious projection for 2025, with priority areas including the rehabilitation of road and electricity networks. He also talked of reinforcement of the production system of the Cameroon Development Cooperation, CDC, PAMOL, Upper Noun Valley Development Association, UNVDA, and reconstruction of social services. 

He said the plan has a budget of just over 25 billion FCFA. Tasong stated that the State is providing 58% of the funding, the Islamic Development Bank, IsDB, 34%, and the Japanese government 8%.

The Steering Committee Chairperson said the budget fits key components of the PPRD viz; promotion of social cohesion, 3%; rehabilitation of basic infrastructure, 77%; revitalisation of local economy, 12% and 9% for governance.

He said the North West Region will benefit 48% of the budget, while the South West has 52%. This year, he said, there will be multiple implementing partners like local councils and Regional Assemblies, the development missions and devolved state services. This, he said, is due to their proximity to the population.

Tasong stated that the population of the two Regions will see the rehabilitation or construction of 66 schools, 38 health centres, 30 water supply systems, 13 electrical networks, 13 community infrastructure, 32 roads and bridges, 10 markets, 10 solar ovens, 50 small businesses, 211,510 units of agricultural equipment, inputs, tools and material across all the thirteen Divisions of the two Regions.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3462 of Monday June 02, 2025