The South West geographically sits on 25,400 square kilometers of surface area on a volcanic soil belt. Marched with its God-given fertile soil is a rare symbiosis of hardworking people who have proven, over the years, their mettle in farm production. Some environmental experts have artistically described the relationship between the South West soil and its tillers as soul-mates. Both large and small scale farmers were able to showcase their know how during the recent national agro-pastoral show in Ebolowa.
The Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC), PAMOL, the Mukete Estates are giant agro-industrial plants that do not only make the Region proud but are second after the State in terms of employment. The National Oil Refinery (SONARA) remains the envy of other Regions while Mount Cameroon, the cosy Limbe Down Beach, the Botanic Garden, the Bota Island, the Korup National Park, the Kupe-Muanenguba twin lakes, the Barombi Lakes among others, are areas that attract thousands of tourists. Made up of six Divisions, the South West shares a vast land and sea boundary with neighbouring Nigeria. Amidst a conglomeration of people and cultural values from other parts of Cameroon, there is peaceful coexistence among the indigenes and foreigners.
However, all is not a bed of roses for there are daunting challenges that await the newly commissioned Governor. For those who can understand the times, Okalia Bilai ascends to the helm of the South West prior to the hosting of celebrations marking 50 years of Cameroon’s Reunification. As the number one commander of the Region, he has to ensure that the celebrations have the relevance it deserves. He is equally expected to foster a hitch-free electoral atmosphere before, during and after the upcoming legislative and municipal elections. The newly commissioned Governor will have to tackle problems peculiar to his regional headquarters, Buea, among which are the perennial water crisis, cyber criminality or “scamming”, on and off strikes in the University of Buea, the pending Cameroon Tea Estate problem with its former workers, and clandestine transportation especially at the Mile 17 Roundabout. Generally, it is incumbent on Okalia Bilai to ensure the award and proper execution of public contracts, reverse the tides of unending land and chieftaincy disputes and the worsening insecurity situation in Kumba.
Projects pending include the tarring of some roads namely the Batibo-Bachuo-Akagbe road and the Mamfe-Ekok road, which are parts of the Bamenda-Enugu Trans-African road network. The completion of studies towards the tarring of the Loum-Kumba-Mundemba-Isangele-Akwa road and the Mamfe-Kumba road. Minister Rene Emmanuel Sadi urged him to "stabilise the crisis situation at the Alliance Franco Camerounaise in Buea", ensure the implementation of the provisions of the Green Tree Agreement as the nation awaits 2013 to gain full sovereignty over the Bakassi Peninsula, check the activities of pirates, clandestine.
