The Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation responded to questions at the National Assembly on December 8, 2014.

In spite of the influx of over 145,000 refugees from the Central African Republic, CAR, into the East Region, government has taken measures to continue to cater for the needs of local people. Responding to concerns by Hon. Dimebele Boui, yesterday, December 8, 2014, at the National Assembly on the alleged easy acquisition of Cameroonian nationality by some of the refugees, the Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, Rene Emmanuel Sadi, said instructions have been issued to Regional Governors to ensure that Cameroonian nationality is safeguarded.

The Minister disclosed that government, in collaboration with partners, was about to introduce poverty alleviation projects in refugee host communities to reduce the pressure brought by aliens. Responding earlier to questions by Hon. Tomaino Ndam Njoya on the alleged poor handling of this year’s Moslem pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, Rene Emmanuel Sadi said some of the hitches witnessed were linked to the insistence by Saudi authorities on biometric passports for pilgrims and the new registration process for the trip.

He commended the national air carrier, Camair-co, for doing a good job of airlifting pilgrims after clearing debts of the defunct Camair. He also disclosed that pilgrims received proper medical care while in the Holy Land, though seven died there.

On the other hand, the Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi, announced the allocation of FCFA of 9 billion in the 2015 State budget to enable the Kirdi, hill-top people of the North and Far North Regions better their socio-economic welfare. He was responding to questions by Hon. Ngonodo Jean. The Minister added that 16,000 Kirdi households in the two regions would also benefit from income-generating assistance.

Concluding the question plenary session, the Minister of Public Works, Patrice Amba Salla, admitted that the economic crisis and long period of privatisation of road maintenance had affected the ministry’s role in ensuring the good state of roads. He assured Hon. Joseph Banadzem that the Babadjou-Bamenda stretch of road had not been abandoned, adding that FCFA 500 billion was needed to maintain roads in the country. With the recent acquisition of equipment by MATGENIE, he said there were brighter prospects of better road maintenance by devolved services of his ministry.