2022 BIP Projects for Momo Division

According to statistics Mbengwi Online obtained from the Momo Divisional Delegation of the Ministry of the Economy Planning and Regional Development (MINEPAT), for the new present financial year 2022, the division gained 61 projects expected to cost one billion, four hundred and fifty million, one hundred and fifteen thousand (1.450.115.000) FRS. More than half way gone into the year, only 5 have been completely executed, 12 ongoing and 45 not yet started out of which 2 haven't even been awarded. As at moment, this gives a physical execution rate of 15.67% and 0.07% financial, a record that is far below average and expectation.

Ubangoh Helly-manyelle Akoba, Mayor of Andek Council

Going by councils, in Andek, there'll be the purchase of a 20 tons dump truck for the municipality, completion and equipping of a Guest House, rehabilitation of the Teze 2nd class chiefdom and Andek palace cultural centre, construction of Ebang agricultural post, construction of a community hall in Etwii and Bonambufei plus boreholes for water supply in Bonatin, Baitei Square, Andek Market Square and Council Premises. There'll also be rural electrification of Abebung and Bonambufei villages, rehabilitation and extension of of the Bonanyang, Lower and Upper Ebang portable water schemes including the construction of a building workshop at SAR/SM Andek, rehabilitation of council road from Teze to Abebung, concreting bad spots at Bonambufei, provision of support to the Bonambufei Common Initiative Group for the production, processing and marketing of palm/kernel oil and support of equipment to the vulnerable. 

Acha Kennedy Ngu, Mayor of Batibo Council

For the Batibo Council, its earmarked projects are construction of 13 open market sheds at Njen market, a community hall at Ewai village, a bridge at Njifah, below Batibo park, integrated health centre at Batibo Urban, rehabilitation of fingerlings production centre and subsequent supply of the fingerlings to fish farmers in the municipality and to the station. There'll also be rehabilitation and extension of the Nnen-Okan portable water supply scheme plus provision of support in equipment to the vulnerable population. 

Ndangsa Kennedy Akam, Mayor of Mbengwi Council

Mbengwi is the Momo Divisional headquarters. The subdivision's own projects include the construction of a block of two classrooms in Government School Bessi Fomukong, purchase of a hearse for the municipal mortuary and construction of a garage, rural electrification of Kai to Zang Tabi village, rehabilitation and extension of Ngyen-Mbo water scheme, construction of Tembug bridge linking G.S Wumnembug and Health Centre, supply of farm tools, sewing machines and hair dressing materials to some farming groups, common initiative groups, small and medium size enterprises in the municipality, rehabilitation of the Muswe-Checkpoint road in Mbengwi urban, purchase and installation of 35 solar street photovoltaic street lights in some communities in the municipality and support in equipment to the vulnerable population. Some of these projects have been fully realised, others in progress and near completion. 

Akebe Angwa Emmanuel, Mayor of Njikwa Council

In Njikwa, there'll be the construction of a protective fence plus installation of a solar plant and access street lighting  at the Oshie touristic centre, construction of a gravity water supply scheme in Bakwa, rehabilitation, supply of medical eqipment and construction of a V.I.P toilet with four squatting holes at the Bassa integrated health centre, installation of a 5kw rooftop solar electricity at the Oshie medicalised health centre and also at the Bakwa integrated health centre, construction of Etinadwe-Ikwe integrated health centre, construction of 3 culverts along the Ikweri-Bassa-Bakwa road and support in equipment to the vulnerable population. 

Andoh Stanislas Tambu, Mayor of Widikum Council

Lastly, for Widikum, there'll be construction of a block of two classrooms in Government School Mpeng-Menka, rehabilitation of the 8km road Larinji-Kanibom, construction of a 3m long culvert in Larinji, construction of a community hall at Echibit-Menka, purchase of agric tools and organisation of a mini agro pastoral show, construction of a mini hydroelectric plant at Widikum and distribution to the giant oil mill at Dinku road plus construction of another mini hydroelectric plant at Echibit and distribution to the villages of Mpeng, Efang and Tanka (phase II).

As per the recent ranking of council performances in the division, Mbengwi occupied the first position, followed by Njikwa, Andek, Batibo and lastly, Widikum. 

Warrant of Arrest Issued for a Bad Contractor in Momo Division

Warrant of Arrest Issued for a Bad Contractor in Momo Division

Members of the Momo Divisional Participatory Follow-up Committee for the evaluation of projects executed from the Public Investment Budget have resolved to prosecute all contractors who've collected state money for no work done and that because of their bad faith, no contract should ever be awarded to such again. They came to this conclusion during the second quarterly meeting that took place on Thursday July 7 2022 in the conference hall of the Divisional Delegation of MINEPAT.

In his opening statement, the new vice chairperson of the committee, Mr. Ngwe Obed Musong who doubles as the Home Coordinator of the Meta Cultural and Development Association (MECUDA) said "As we are together, I'll learn from all of you since I'm new". He was addressing members for his very first time since gaining the new position as vice chair.

Committee Members on Field Visit to Project Site, Renovation of Mbengwi D.O's Office

Members in Session

While evaluating 2021 uncompleted projects, it was disclosed that but for Widikum subdivision that recorded a 100% completion, each of the other four subdivisions has at least an uncompleted project. The construction of classrooms at Government School Bonatu, SAR/SM and an Agric Post, all in Andek are yet to take off same as the Rural Electrification of Kulabei in Batibo, Bessi Fomukong in Mbengwi and Rehabilitation of Kutin Health Centre in Njikwa are some of the yet to be started or completed projects in the division carried over from 2021 into 2022.

Worried about the non execution of their project, the Kulabei Cultural and Development Association in Batibo has filed a complaint to the Momo Divisional Follow-up Committee against the contractor, Fombako Company Limited, noted for taking government contracts, collecting money for the work but never doing anything. It is the same situation with Bessi Fomukong in Mbengwi and its own rural electrification project as the very Fombako  Company that won the contract to send light to the village has done nothing in this light, yet money has been cleared from the state coffers. It is even rumoured that at moment, the company founder is in Yaoundé struggling to be awarded the multimillion contract of rehabilitating the Acha-Tugi-Njikwa road. 

MINEPAT Divisional Office, Momo

Members on Field Visit to Project Site, Mbengwi Council Market Stalls

During deliberations on such contractors pulling the development of the  division behind, the mayor of the Mbengwi Council disclosed that before kicking the bucket some months back, the late state prosecutor (counsel) for Mbengwi, Narcis Ekwelle Ekana had issued a Warrant of Arrest for the founder of Fombako Company Limited. As it stands, he is wanted and has all this while been avoiding the region. Going by statistics presented to Mbengwi Online by the Momo Divisional Delegate of the Ministry of Economy, Planning and and Regional Development (MINEPAT), in 2021, Momo division was awarded a total of 59 projects and by the end of the year, 49 were completed, 3 uncompleted and 7 not even started, giving a financial realisation rate of 82.10% and 82.34% physical.

For the new present financial year 2022, the division gained 61 projects expected to cost one billion, four hundred and fifty million, one hundred and fifteen thousand (1.450.115.000) FRS. More than half way gone into the year, only 5 have been completely executed, 12 ongoing and 45 not yet started out of which 2 haven't even been awarded. As at moment, this gives a physical execution rate of 15.67% and 0.07% financial, a record that is far below average and expectation.

These projects involve rehabilitation and construction of roads, community halls, palaces, schools, integrated health centres, supply and equipping of offices, solar and hydro electrification of communities, digging of boreholes and extension of water supply schemes in villages, provision of assistance to the vulnerable population just to name these few. Most have been signed and awarded but effective execution yet to begin.

3-Phase Electricity Line Going to Ngie

Teze Oil Mill, Now Electrified

According to a staff of the Andek council that was present at the follow up meeting, the construction of an Integrated Health Centre at Nkon was disrupted following an attack by non state armed fighters in the area that resulted to the previously existing structure being burnt down. According to him, the council is presently negotiating on transferring the project to another safer area also in dye need of an integrated health centre. He further confirmed that a MINEPAT sponsored contract that was awarded since 2017 for a 3-phase electricity supply from Mbengwi to Andek has finally seen the light of day this 2022. As a result, the Bonambufei Common Initiative Group shall this year benefit a project that will see them being provided support for the production, processing and marketing of palm oil and kennel oil. At long last, the Teze oil mill now fully go operational and sustained thanks to this latest development in Ngie.

While reviewing the recommendations that were made during the first meeting for the year, the committee members appreciated the little improvements so far made but insisted there's need for intensification. Amongst some of the resolutions were that authorising officers (mayors) have to hold meetings with contractors that have projects in their municipalities before work begins, trenches for water projects should be deep enough, at least 60cm, king poles for roofing projects should be stiff enough to prevent subsequent leakages, donor ministries should be contract managers and be involved in the installation and reception of contracts via their delegates, site selection of projects and environmental aspects of studies when constructing the D.A.O must be done so in consultation with the delegate of environment, no project less that 5 million FRS should be deposited on MINDEVEL credit and by the end of the financial year, no credit should be blocked. The committee also recommended that the state should intensify the decentralisation process so that contractors can follow up their documents only at the level of the region not Yaounde all the times.

Committee Executive 

Mbengwi Council New Modern Slaughter House in G.R.A

As has always been the case during all such meetings for the past two or three years, only the mayor of the Mbengwi Council, Ndangsa Kennedy Akam will always be physically present. In presenting a situational report of his municipality, he said the council will soon be demolishing the old slap near Abbi Fall Resort as last strategy to force the butchers into the new slaughter house at G.R.A, the giant nursery and primary school constructed behind the Gendarmerie post by GPDERUDEP will go functional come September 2022, all the solar street lights the council obtained have been installed across the municipality, a borehole has been dug in the Mbon main market to arrest the water crisis in Mbengwi, completion works on the slaughter house construction project in Njaah that was suspended due to insecurity will soon resume and that on a general note, his municipality is fairing well.

On the situation of the abandoned Ngwokwong bridge construction project, it was disclosed that procedures towards the suspension of the contractor are ongoing but according Anoh Pascal Nji, a technician from the divisional delegation of public contracts, their minister has instructed them that it doesn't just suffice to suspend a contractor but the ideal is to get another that will do the work so that there's continuation.

Regrettably, going by regional rankings during the last regional follow up meeting, Momo division came out last in terms of physical and financial realisation of public investment projects. However, in the last national follow up meeting, the North West region occupied the fourth position. This information was disclosed by the MINEPAT divisional delegate for Momo who in turn suggested that to change this record, mayors have to must put projects only where they can be executed with ease. In her words, "It is better to have one part of your subdivision more developed than nothing at all."

Mbengwi Council Old Slap

Ndangsa Kennedy Akam, Mayor, Mbengwi Council

Before closing the meeting, members paid a brief visit to some project sites in Mbengwi beginning with the Divisional Officer's office where renovation works are ongoing. While on site, they assessed the work being done and made recommendations to the contractor. They'll later visit the Mbengwi Council market stalls constructed at the entrance into the Mbengwi district hospital to ascertain usage and challenges being faced by tenants already doing business in the stalls.

While closing the meeting, Madam Mary Akene, representative of the Momo Senior Divisional Officer (S.D.O) thanked all for braving the odds to attend the meeting. She wished decisions arrived at be fully implemented so that the living conditions of all and sundry in the division be improved upon by fully realising all the earmarked projects. 

Mbengwi Drivers' Union Maintain Road in Memory of Killed Colleague

Close to a hundred drivers plying the Mbengwi-Bamenda road and that are registered members of the Mbengwi Drivers' Union (M.D.U) on Thursday June 30th 2022 grounded their vehicles not for any demonstration but to carry out maintenance works on the stretch of road from G.B.H.S Mbengwi to Monastery Junction, extending to the Ngyen-Mbo Checkpoint that was nearly becoming impassable due to unbearable potholes. 

It should be recalled on Thursday April 7th 2022, Tekwe Rene Nyengiche, a driver plying the Mbengwi-Bamenda road was gunned down at Alubukam by non state armed fighters locally called "Amba Boys" for no just reason. On Tuesday April 12th same month, his mortal remains were laid to rest in Ngyen-Mbo. Members of the driver's union where he was a  member made a condolence contribution that amounted to hundreds of thousands. Part of the money raised was used during his burial and the rest kept in the union's coffers. 

Drivers Carrying Out Road Maintenance

Loading Laterite 

As explained by Tebo Philip Tembeng, Mbengwi Branch President of the union, "Everything being equal, the road was done courtesy of our own colleague that had gone to eternity in the name of  Rene." To Timo Eric Fomundam, Bamenda branch president of the union, the drivers responded well to the call for the road maintenance work and were of good conduct throughout the exercise. He however regretted that there were a few recalcitrant ones that preferred to continue their transportation business than joining their colleagues to maintain the road. He said these ones will be "put on a hot sea" so that next time they better understand the meaning of solidarity. 

Tebo Philip Tembeng, Mbengwi Branch President 

Timo Eric Fomundam, Bamenda Branch President

Prior to the day of work, the union had procured several trips of soil (laterite) and threw on several portions along the stretch they had to work on. On that fateful Thursday, members came out with tools like wheelbarrows, dig axes, spades and hoes to scatter the hips of soil that had been deposited before. They also at some points created passage ways for standing water to flow from the middle of the road to the roadsides. 

The Mbengwi Drivers' Union was supported in the road maintenance initiative by the Mbengwi council that sent to them a mini truck and work tools to assist in easily digging, loading, offloading and transporting laterite to the very bad portions on the road. Some concerned road users also passed by and gave financial tokens to encourage the initiative. Unfortunately, it rained heavily that same day and even the next day thus somehow ruining the work that was done though on a general evaluation, the state of the maintained stretch as at now is better than how it was before. 

Doreen Fonjong Anwi epouse Agwe, First Deputy Mayor, Mbengwi Council 

Mini Truck Sent by the Mbengwi Council to Assist the Drivers

The first deputy mayor of the Mbengwi Council, Doreen Fonjong spouse of Agwe. In remarking about the work done, she told Mbengwi Online "I'll want to thank the organisers, especially the Presidents of the drivers' union and the Mayor, Ndangsa Kennedy for aligning with the driver's plan and giving them the leeway to carryout this exercise." After work, the union members rallied back at the Mbon motor park where the executive acknowledged the various supports they received to ensure a successful completion of the task they'd embarked on.

It was disclosed that the women selling bread and other items at hospital roundabout supported them with some drinks, same as the first deputy mayor, the council Chief of Works, a cashier of Njindom Credit Union, the two presidents and some drivers themselves that went an extra mile to still offer some drinks. It was also acknowledged that the Member of Parliament for Momo East Constituency, Mbengwi, Hon. Injoh Foo Ngang Prodencia supported them financially while the council gave material support.

Filled Potholes

Seta Withgodep Wierts Assisting the Drivers

Maintsined Portion 

Fongyen Valery, a driver, expressed the desire they have to carryout such maintenance works from time to time but regretted their will is hindered by the lack of means. On behalf of his colleagues, he pleaded for any well wisher to instead of giving them drinks or money rather offer them long lasting material support like spades, box hammers, wheelbarrows and any other work tool. The drivers that turned out for the work were made up of Mankon natives, Meta natives, the Mbororos and natives from other tribes earning a living from the road. From their number, it could be deduced that at least 100 family heads depend on the Mbengwi-Bamenda road to feed their families, pay bills, educate their children and save for rainy days.