Douala City Council unveils emergency plan for road rehabilitation.

Speaking to the press on Thursday September 4 at the Rudolf Tokoto conference hall in Douala, the City Mayor underscored the severe impact of climate change and heavy rains on the city’s road network, pointing out that recurrent flooding and dilapidated infrastructure continue to disrupt the daily lives of residents.

“When we assumed office in March 2020, we carried out a diagnosis of the road network, and the needs were already estimated at about 15 billion FCFA for 225 km of priority roads,” Dr Mbassa Ndine recalled. 

“Since then, we have scaled the plan to 730 km with a cost of about 75 billion FCFA. By 2025, we have achieved nearly 60 percent of the initial target, but the recent rains have made an emergency plan inevitable,” he added. 

Notwithstanding, he said, the 2025 emergency plan seeks to address the most critical road maintenance and rehabilitation needs at the end of the rainy season to guarantee mobility and safety. 

The plan prioritises, amongst other dire situations, rehabilitation of paved and unpaved roads, with 90km of re-profiling and recharging of earth roads, construction and rehabilitation of drainage systems and crossing structures in flood-prone and enclaved neighbourhoods, paving of 10km of selected roads, hydro-cleaning of underground drainage systems in areas such as Plateau Joss, Akwa, Makepe, Bonamoussadi, and Kotto, maintenance and rehabilitation of public lighting, with a target of 8,900 points out of the 90,000 recorded citywide.

Systematic repair of potholes over a 10,000 metres square surface

According to the Mayor, these interventions will not only improve traffic flow, but also enhance safety, reduce flooding risks, and restore public confidence in the city’s infrastructure management. 

It has been noted that since the rainy season began this year, huge floods that usually occurred in Douala have reduced. To this, the City Mayor commended his team for having won the battle against floods.

Waste management concerns

Beyond road works, Dr Mbassa Ndine admitted that household waste disposal remains a “real threat” to urban hygiene. 

He revealed that Douala’s main waste collection partner, HYSACAM, has struggled to meet its obligations due to logistical setbacks, with only 35 of the required 40 garbage trucks operational daily.

To address this, the City Council launched an international tender in February 2025 for a new waste collection and treatment system, with stronger collaboration expected from Douala’s sub-divisional councils.

The construction of a waste treatment facility in Ngombe in Douala III Subdivision is also a measure underway to tackle waste management crisis. 

Call for civic responsibility

While acknowledging the Council’s progress, including the 2020 rehabilitation of major structures and drainage improvements, the City Mayor stressed that citizens’ behaviour also plays a crucial role.

“Vandalism of public lighting and other urban equipment undermines our collective efforts,” he warned.

He concluded by calling for constructive dialogue and public cooperation, assuring residents that the Council remains committed to improving their living conditions.

“Our duty is to preserve the city. This emergency plan is proof of our determination to respond promptly to the needs of Douala’s growing population,” he said.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3560 of Wednesday September 10, 2025