Flood Protection Infrastructure In Far North : PM Instructs Exploration Of Alternative Funding Solutions

“Under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister, Head of Government, His Excellency Joseph Dion Ngute, a Cabinet Meeting was held on Thursday, 6 March 2025, at 3 p.m. in the auditorium of the Prime Minister's Office. The meeting was attended by Ministers of State, Ministers, Ministers Delegate, and Secretaries of State.
The following items featured on the agenda:
1.    statement by the Minister of Public Works on "the work in progress on the Bekoko-Limbe-Idenau, Mutenguene-Buea, Ngaoundere-Garoua and Ebolowa-Akom Il-Kribi roadprojects";
2.    statement by the Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development on "measures taken to mobilise funding and buildflood protection infrastructure in the Far North Region" 
3.    statement by the Minister of Transport on "the progress made in the rehabilitation and modernisation of the Tiko, Bertoua and Kribi airports";
4.    miscellaneous.
At the end of the Head of Government's introductory statement, the Minister of Public Works highlighted the strategic importance of the roads in question and the challenges related to their construction or rehabilitation. He emphasized their role in improving mobility conditions for the population and generating positive socio-economic externalities.
The Bekoko-Limbe-Idenau and Mutenguene-Buea road projects, along with the access ramp to the Port of Tiko, spanning a total of 107.91 kilometres, have been granted a maturity visa. The Commission for Recording and Evaluating Impacted Assets, chaired by the territorially competent Senior Divisional Officer, is overseeing the operational process leading to the expropriation of local populations. In 2024, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed with the ATI BONISA Group for the financing and execution of the works, followed by the conclusion of a commercial contract. Negotiations are ongoing between this partner and the relevant authorities to secure the requisite funds on favourable terms. 
The planned reconstruction of the 242-kilometre Ngaoundere-Garoua road aims to upgrade the infrastructure to the standards of an economic corridor. The African Development Bank, the State's Technical and Financial Partner for this project, has approved two financing agreements totalling nearly CFAF 216 billion. An International Open Call for Tenders, launched on 13 February 2025, attracted proposals from 23 construction companies. The work, divided into 5 segments, is scheduled to begin before the end of the first half of this year and is expected to last approximately 36 months.
 The Ebolowa-Akom 2-Kribi road project includes bypasses for the towns of Ebolowa and Kribi, as well as the Akom 2 slip road, covering a total of 179 kilometres. To date, the project schedule, established by agreement between the contractor ICM, Standard Chartered Bank of London, the loan insurer United Kingdom Export Finance, and the environmental expert RAMBOLL, has been adhered to. It is worth noting that the decrees for expropriation in the public interest have already been published, and subsequent requests from affected populations are currently under review by the administrative authorities. That said, the effective disbursement of the second tranche of funding, amounting to 95%, will enable the commencement of actual construction work, as all preparatory measures have already been completed using the initial 5% allocation.
Speaking after him, the Minister of Economy, Planning, and Regional Development recalled that in recent years, from August to October, the Far North Region has experienced torrential rains resulting in severe flooding, with devastating impacts on infrastructure and the living conditions of the population. In response, studies have been conducted to identify comprehensive, long-term solutions for managing these natural disasters. Mitigation measures are being considei•ed for the short, medium, and long term.
As part of the Logone Valley Development and Investment Valorisation Project (VIVA Logone) and the Lake Chad Region Recovery and Development Project (PROLAC), efforts are underway to reinforce or raise existing dykes, particularly between Begue Palam and Pouss. In some areas, priority has been given to consolidating or constructing dykes and clearing gullies to improve water flow. Regarding the Maga dam and the Logone River dyke, a recent summary audit identified abnormalities requiring urgent corrective action. The process of mobilizing the necessary resources has already started.
The medium and long-term measures primarily focus on the project to construct a road embankment between the localities of Gobo, in the Mayo-Danay Division, and Kousseri, in the Logone and Chari Division. This infrastructure, estimated to cost FCFA 1,149 billion, aims to ensure a balanced approach to drainage and water management during flood periods through bank protection mechanisms, road construction, and hydro-agricultural development. Efforts to s...