Decongesting Yaounde: Work progressing on MAETUR decent housing project in Nkondom.

During a media visit to the site on November 27, engineers could be seen with excavators and different machines levelling the land and opening roads. Also, other facilities like control post and power stations were being erected.

According to the Urban Planner at MAETUR’s Production Department, Tchapa Tolale Thierry, the new city being developed, is located 21km from the urban centre of Yaounde and 3.7 km from Mfou urban centre. He said the project is part of the Greater Yaounde expansion project.

With the project covering approximately 250 hectares, Tchapa said the initiative is envisioned to create a living environment for housing, accompanied by the necessary facilities for normal urban use, social and community facilities like playgrounds and green spaces.

“So, it is a project that supports the government's vision in response to the strong demand for decent living conditions and sustainable and inclusive living spaces in the city of Yaoundé,” the MAETUR urbanist said.

The first phase of Nkondom project consists of preparing 681 plots, spread over a surface area of 50 hectares.

He insisted that MAETUR aligns itself with the government's vision of producing plots accessible to people on moderate incomes, thus combining the vision with the ability to promote property development that continues to meet the needs of low-income populations.

“MAETUR is therefore firmly committed to responding to and contributing to the high demand for decent living conditions throughout the country. This is a case that truly fits in with this vision, which is no longer just to offer people plots of land for housing, but to create towns and spaces that can best meet the ever-growing demand for developed, secure and sustainable urban space,” Tchapa told journalists.

The Nkondom project will be linked to the Yaounde expansion project with a bypass of four sections spanning 97km. The MAETUR urbanist elucidated that the flyover will form a loop around Yaoundé, creating urban space with potential for development. 

“It is generally in these areas that we need to anticipate in terms of planning and city creation, so that this development can take place in a coherent and harmonious manner,” he explained.

Project to be delivered by March

Epoh Essoh, Civil Engineer in charge of Follow-up at MAETUR, said the institution is working with some partners targeting different sectors like drinking water, access roads electrical energy amongst others. 

Epoh said: “There are machines everywhere that are your partners in the development of this new future city site that we are currently setting up. We are working here on around fifty hectares and we are working to equip this environment with various facilities”. 

He said the company charged with opening of road, Routes d'Af, are in action levelling the ground and arranging layers for secondary and primary roads. 

“We are in the first phase of the works and the company has eight months to complete them. By March, the company will have delivered the works and you will find tarmac on the various roads,” he assured. 

Quizzed on how soon will the new city be occupied by denizens, Epoh said: “If you noticed at the entrance, there are already occupants who are already building and as the work progresses, customers will gradually develop the various plots”. 

Contractor commits to respect deadline

The Director of Exploitation at Routes d’Af, Paul Siméu, said the company is determined to deliver its own sector of the Nkondom project within contractual deadline.

“As you can see, we have a site here where the earthworks have already been completed,” he began explaining, stating that most of the drainage and other activities they are charged with, have already been done. 

“These road works mainly consist of a laterite foundation layer and a laterite base layer improved to 0.31. This is to improve the mechanical performance of this lateritic material. In the base layer, we will arrange to have a material with a CBR of around 80,” he said assuring they will comply with the technical specifications. 

He assured that they are committed to delivering their section of the project by the end of March as stated in their contract.

Assuring that quality work is their watchword, the Route d’Af director said they have prefabricated materials for the gutters and the paving stones that will make up the pavements are already in place.

MAETUR giving meaning to urban planning

Created by Decree N°77/193 of June 23, 1977, and transformed into a Public Limited Company by in April 25, 2019, with the State as sole shareholder, MAETUR has remained steadfast in giving meaning to not just land development but also inclusive, structured and sustainable urban planning.

It is charged with performing studies of urban planning documents; land development studies; allotment; joint development projects; and any other operation involving land such as roads, potable water, electricity, street furniture. 

In a press statement, MAETUR’s Director General, Manga Louis Roger, said the institution is reaffirming its primary vocation to plan, develop, and equip in order to better build the cities of tomorrow.

The move, it must be said, is coming at a time urban challenges are becoming increasingly complex as a result of demographic growth, economic change and environmental imperatives.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3642 of Monday December 01, 2025