The World Bank has approved an additional $49 million in funding for Cameroon, bringing its total disbursement to $242 million for the rehabilitation of the Babadjou-Bamenda road.
This vital project is crucial for enhancing trade between Cameroon and Nigeria.
Additional Funding for Bamenda Urban Section
The additional financing of 30 billion FCFA from the World Bank is specifically allocated to rehabilitate the 6.5 km urban section of Bamenda. This remaining segment is vital for completing the entire Babadjou-Bamenda road project.
The Ministry of Public Works, in a statement, emphasized the government’s dedication to modernizing road infrastructure in the Northwest region. The rehabilitation of this road is seen as a key lever in normalizing the socio-political situation in the area. The work on this remaining section is expected to commence before the end of 2024.
Overcoming Delays Caused by Separatist Demands
The rehabilitation of the nearly 52 km road connecting Babadjou and Bamenda, and linking the West and Northwest regions, faced significant delays due to separatist demands that emerged in late 2016 in the English-speaking regions of Cameroon.
Resumption of Construction and Security Measures
The Babadjou-Matazem segment, initially started in 2017 by the French company Sogea-Satom, was halted due to repeated attacks by separatist terrorists. These attacks resulted in the death of an employee and caused significant material damage. The project was resumed in January 2022 by the Cameroonian company Buns, with security assurances from the Ministry of Defense.
The completion of the Babadjou-Bamenda road is expected to significantly boost trade with Nigeria. This road segment is an integral part of the 438 km Yaoundé-Bamenda-Enugu corridor, which connects Cameroon’s capital city to the most populous country in Africa. This improved infrastructure is poised to facilitate smoother transportation and enhance economic activity between the two nations.