Government’s heightened attention is discernable through multi-million facilities dotted across the peninsular.
Slowly but surely, government’s vision of making Bakassi habitable and ensuring better living conditions is being exemplified in the domain of infrastructure. Since 2007, government has targeted sectors such as transportation, offices, health, schools; among others. “From 2007 to 2014, the State has invested more than FCFA 30 billion in Bakassi. And when one evaluates the State’s investments since 2007, there is no year that the government has invested less than FCFA 1.5 billion in the zone,” reveals Chief Fotsop Dominic Yenai Asaah, Divisional Delegate, MINEPAT, Ndian.
Even critics do acknowledge that commendable efforts have been made in the transportation sector. At first, access to Bakassi was only by ocean, either through Idenau in Fako Division or Ekondo Titi in Ndian Division. The 72-kilometre Mundemba-Isangele-Akwa earth road constructed by the Military Engineering Corps (Genie militaire), has not only eased transportation, but is the only access road into Bakassi from the mainland. The road, though in deplorable condition due to heavy rainfall, now links up three subdivisions in the Peninsular, namely Mundemba, Isangele and Kombo Abedimo. Without mincing words, the road is speeding up commercial activities.
On-the-spot appraisal by Cameroon Tribune in the five maritime Subdivisions of Kombo Abedimo, Kombo Itindi, Isangele, Idabato and Bamusso, which make up the 50,000 population; reveals government’s efforts to fight erosion. MINEPAT has made funds available to construct dykes at Ngosso, Bamusso, Njangassa and Idabato; among others. There are also land wharfs. “In 2007, MINEPAT built two land wharfs in Kombo Amunja I and Kombo Amunja II for FCFA 70 million. In 2008, MINEPAT built one wharf in Akwa, one in Ngosso and another in Barracks for a total sum of FCFA 105 million,” disclosed the Ndian MINEPAT boss.
In 2014, under MINEPAT’s priority projects, the Ministry is constructing two land wharfs in Kombo Itindi Subdivision (in Isu and Gold Coast), and three in Idabato Subdivision. Ongoing construction statistics on the field attest that the State has invested more than FCFA one billion for water and energy in the zone. There are street lights powered by solar energy, but which are not working. Many boreholes have been constructed, especially in Isangele and Akwa, but none is functioning.
“The main problem we are facing is that of water and electricity. Contracts for these projects were awarded in Yaounde to people who do not master the terrain. The water project in Akwa has cost the State more than FCFA 500 million, but we have no drop of water to drink!” regrets Aboko Patrick Anki, Mayor of Kombo Abedimo.
The Ministries of Basic Education, Secondary and Vocational Training have conspicuous school structures alongside staff premises. Health centres have either been constructed or are undergoing construction alongside residences for staff. Modern administrative buildings and residences for civil servants do not only catch the eye especially in Akwa, but are the envy of administrators out of Bakassi.
In the fishery sector, the State is busy building some 80 houses for fishermen and fishmongers at Isangele New Beach. In the area of communication, Bakassi only has a private mobile telephone network that is patchily received. The UNESCO-subsidised Bakassi FM Radio Station at Isangele went dysfunctional after being struck by lightning in 2013.
