Bombe, SW - Even as beneficiary populations and elite celebrated the "small but significant" road linking Muea to Kumba, the man who led the European Union to pay for half the cost of the road already has his eyes set on Nigeria and Bakassi.

Xavier Puyol, EU representative here, speaking at 25 September ceremony where prime minister Philemon Yang inaugurated the road, announced he was looking beyond to the Kumba-Mamfe-Ekok stretch that would link Douala, Cameroon's economic capital to Lagos, Nigeria's.

"Trade between your two countries is very important," Puyol, who announced he was at end of mandate in Cameroon, said. "You have food varieties here that Nigeria does not have."

Kumba, for its rich agricultural production of cocoa, coffee, tea and tubers like yams, cocoyams, was identified as vital in that connection. The road would also be a veritable farm to market road for products from the two big local agro-industrial companies - CDC and Pamol.

Tarred road link between Cameroon and Nigeria is also imperative for confidence-building between the two peoples, following the peaceful resolution of the Bakassi dispute, Puyol went on.

Speakers at the ceremony, including prime minister Yang said the required 13 billion frs CFA for feasibility studies on that stretch was already in hand, though priority was on the Ekok-Bamenda stretch which is part of the Enugu-Bamenda-Douala-Yaounde corridor linking the Central African Republic in the trans-Africa high way.

Similarly, the EU man advocated for a road link to open up the Bakassi peninsula. "Bakassi is more accessible through Nigeria," he said. "If your government must achieve its aim of reintegrating the people there, it must open it up by road to Cameroon."

The deplorable state of road communication through Kumba-Mundemba-Isangele road that links to Bakassi, was subject of lamentation on CRTV's critical Sunday morning programme, Cameroon Calling only weeks ago.

Understandably, the local population and elite were both thankful and hopeful for more. Speaking on behalf of the people, elite and elected officials of the entire South West, was Otte Andrew Mofa, the mayor of Mbonge, host subdivision of Bombe-Bakundu where the road inauguration took place.

"This road will mobilize and strengthen our ambition to alleviate poverty and promote sustainable development," he said. "Our crops will be easily evacuated to big markets."

While thanking the government for other projects realized in the South West, Mofa rolled out another long list of long-promised but pending projects in the South West, including the Kumba-Mbonge-Mundemba highway, the KumbaMamfe highway, a Lebialem highway, the Kumba-Tombel-Bangem highway, the Nguti-Bangem highway and the Kumba Town double carriage way.

This last part of the project, which should have been the completion point of the Muea-Kumba stretch, is expected to be completed by March next year.

The construction company, SATOM, backed out of that stretch because of extra cost involved with urban situations like displacing, replacing and repairing underground telephone, electricity and water connections, we learned from local public works officials.

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cameroon
written by denis, December 21, 2010

Well I think might be its time we talk openly about our problems.I am supprise it is a European who should make a remark that we need better roads.Is it that Cameroonians do not see that their country is delapidating or have no roads?I still can't understand why people need to send motions of support and crapy thanks for a senior civil servant doing his job.I think the mentality cultivated during colonialism is yielding it fruits .Cameroonians feel like beggers in their own country living at the mercy of the leaders they elect(if at all they do),These officials that are free to choose if to carry out their functions, how and when they wish to carry they duties ,without any pressure or accountability.

Who will go down for this?same old story .witch hunt about our history,european colonialisation,economic crises,lack of capital,lack of infrastructures etc.

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