Cameroon's CFA600 Billion Northern Road Program Faces Delays

More than CFA600 billion in major road projects are underway across northern Cameroon, but several contracts remain in their early stages despite months of work and substantial startup payments. Technical data reviewed by Business in Cameroon show significant delays on projects backed by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the World Bank and the European Union, despite a more favorable assessment presented by Public Works Minister Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi. According to the minister, the projects in the Far North, North and Adamawa regions cover 709 km of roads, including 449 km along National Road No. 1, part of the Douala-N’Djamena corridor. The Ministry of Public Works (MINTP) puts their combined financing at more than CFA600 billion. The gap between actual construction progress and the ministry’s presentation is particularly visible on the 242-km Ngaoundéré-Garoua road. Nganou Djoumessi said the project review found that “companies are properly mobilized across the project’s five sections.” He cited the start of aggregate production and earthworks between Salah Bridge and the bridge over the Benue River, while contractors were setting up work camps and crushers on other sections. However, the project review document examined by Business ...