Anticipated Tarring of Mile 19 - Njindom - Sang Road; A White Elephant Project?
According to information revealed by a staff from the Momo Divisional Delegation of Public Works, the stretch of road Mile 19 - Njindom - Sang in Mbengwi central subdivision should have been tarred since about two years ago everything being equal. Unfortunately, up till now, the lone progress so far made is that the contract has remained on paper since being signed and awarded way back in 2017. Could it be a white elephant project that will never come to fruition?
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| Mile 19 Hill |
The disclosure of this pending multimillion road project was made during the 2nd quarterly meeting of the Momo Divisional Participatory Follow Up Committee for the evaluation of public investment projects that recently held on Thursday July 16 2020 in the conference hall of the Divisional Delegation of Labour and Social Security.
While chairing the meeting for her first time as president ever since being elected, Hon. Injoh Foo Ngang Prodencia, M.P for Momo East Constituency, Mbengwi called for fair and objective deliberations. "Momo division first, in terms of the development of this nation" she cautioned members. The lone full-fledged mayor present was Ndangsa Kennedy Akam of the Mbengwi council. That of Andek was represented by his first deputy while that of Batibo was represented by the Council Development Officer. Njikwa and Widikum councils were completely absent.
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| Hon. Injoh Foo Ngang Prodencia, M.P Momo East Constituency, President, Momo Divisional Follow-up Committee |
In pursuit of the main discussions and deliberations of the last such meeting that held in April, all mayors were again called upon to execute concrete projects like culverts and bridges as from this 2021 financial year with the annual 27.7 million Francs from the public works ministry rather than opening up new roads that usually fold up not long afterwards.
Committee members also resolved to petition the Ministry of Social Affairs to reconsider the terms of reference of the annual 1.5 million it sends to councils to help the vulnerable population so that it becomes flexible for the councils to determine potential beneficiaries based on their local realities rather than compelling them to use the budget only for the purchase of white canes for the visually impaired every year.
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| Sample of local solutions to local problems, villagers rebuilding bridge destroyed by fighters over two years ago |
Other concerns that have been preoccupying members during every follow-up meeting with seemingly no progress made have been the deplorable state of the divisional finance building that is at the verge of collapse, the acute shortage of staff at some delegations mostly MINTP, MINEPAT and other services, the effective realisation of all projects below 5 million by councils, the usage of the local population in projects execution, the drawing up of environmental impact assessment plans during project studies and also establishment of a council development plan just to name these few.
Hammering hard on the aspect of project execution, the meeting chair cautioned members that "With the challenges we have now in our community, there is the need to do concrete realisations that will convince the people that things are really changing" She went on to pinpoint that administration ought to be flexible not static, this in relation to committee members having the powers to be able to change certain dynamics in projects during execution based on local realities.
Mayors and other expected personalities that have been absenting themselves from these follow-up meetings were called upon to sit up because their absence pulls the division backwards. Such calls have repeatedly been made at the end of such meetings yet little change often recorded as some councils have been noted for always boycotting. They were warned that they knew the reality on the ground before vying for office and so shouldn't use it as an excuse now.
Talking to Mbengwi Online at the close of the meeting, the committee's president, Hon. Injoh Foo Ngang Prodencia said "I'm very impressed with the turn out and the contributions made by participants especially as some contractors who were awarded contracts to tar roads since 2016 have been afraid to do so, reason why we resolved to encourage them to come to the ground because dispositions have been taken for local solutions to be sort for local problems."
She went on to call on her constituents to cooperate so as to benefit because according to her, during the reconstruction meeting, that recently held in Bamenda, the minister, Paul Tasong made it clear that they'll skip over divisions where there are hostilities and focus on those that are subtle and welcoming. "At the end of the day, the constituents of our division will be the losers should normalcy not return" Foo Ngang pinpointed.
The town of Mbengwi has been in darkness for months now. Often, when electricity is supplied, it comes within the day and lasts just for few minutes during which Mile 18, the commercial centre of the municipality remains unconnected. Faced with this situation, economic operators in particular and the population in general have remained helpless. The issue came under review during the follow up meeting and in response, the M.P said "The problem is currently top on the table of H.E Minister Mbah Acha Rose of the Supreme State Audit who is a developer and bulldozer that takes priority of her people's wellbeing in Momo division especially the headquarters. In no distant time, it'll be looked into as she's given assurances of having gotten in touch with the competent service for a fixed solution"
2020 Projects for Andek Council
- Construction of a block of 2 classrooms at G.S Angai
- Supply of 60 benches and Head Teacher's table with two chairs at G.S Angai
- Construction of Ajei Integrated Health Centre
- Construction of 10 market hangars at Ajei Market
- Construction of 10 market hangars at Teze Market
- Purchase of working equipments (computers, chairs, tables etc) for the Andek municipal council
- Rehabilitation of Teze Water Scheme
- Rehabilitation of Tonangai-Tinechung road
- Equipment support for vulnerable population
2020 Projects for Batibo Council
- Construction of a block of 2 classrooms at G.S Kon
- Supply of 60 benches and 2 teacher's desk to G.S Kon
- Construction of water phase 1 in Batibo urban
- Construction of a box around the church, Ambo road
- Construction of a bridge at Enaah-Enwen
- Construction of a bridge at Kugwe market
- Equipping of Kugwe Integrated Health Centre
- Rehabilitation of Ambo water scheme
- Rehabilitation of Guzang-Bessi-Ashong road
- Equipment support for vulnerable population
2020 Projects for Mbengwi Council
- Construction of a block of 2 classrooms at G.S Wumsom
- Supply of 60 benches and 2 teacher's desk to G.S Wumsom (already executed)
- Inclusive Education to GS Kobenyang
- Rehabilitation and extension of Mbengwi municipal stadium
- Purchase of chairs and sound system for the council (already executed)
- Rural electrification of G.R.A - Bessi Fomukong
- Rural electrification of Tuanyang - Njimetu
- Fight against insalubrity, pollution and suisance / plastic waste
- Construction of the centre of the motor park
- Construction of a slaughter house with overhead rails
- Rural electrification of Barakwe - Wumnebit - Chenam
- Supporting of reforestation activities in local and regional authorities
- Rehabilitation of Toboh-Hausa quarter road with the existing bridge
- Support to Fonakwi integrated common initiative group
- Support to Dynamic mixed farming group, Nyen
- Support to Kai women's farming group
- Equipment support for vulnerable population
2020 Projects for Njikwa Council
- Construction of a block of 2 classrooms at G.S Amanka
- Supply of 60 benches and Head teacher's table with two chairs to G.S Amanka
- Construction and equipping of a snack bar, a lodging block, solar electrification and installation of internet facility at Oshie touristic centre
- Construction of Banya integrated health centre
- Supply of road maintenance tools to the community in Bakwa
- Construction of 3 metallic culverts along the Kinda - Bako road and rehabilitation/pavement of the bad spot at the Njumukod hill
- Construction of a bridge at Ibal-Konda
- Supply of medical equipment to to Banya Integrated Health Centre
- Construction of Kuttin gravity water supply scheme and rehabilitation and extension of the Soh water scheme
- Rehabilitation of the road from Njikwa district to Nkun market and building of embankments, pavements and stone gutters at the mashy hill.
- Rehabilitation of the Banya - Nfih bridge - Bako market stretch of road
- Equipment support for vulnerable population
*Widikum Council*
- Construction of a block of 2 classrooms at G.S Abedu
- Supply of 60 benches and Head Teacher's table with 2 chairs to G.S Abedu
- Rehabilitation of Diche 1 Palace
- Phase 2 of the giant water project in Widikum town
- Construction of a borehole in Ebendi
- Rehabilitation of the road Tanka (Njumba)
- Equipment support for vulnerable population
NB: These aren't all the projects. Some are to be executed at the level of divisional delegations not councils.
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