The Pete-Bandjoun, Ngoumou and Nguibassal councils signed funding agreements worth FCFA 1.6 billion with FEICOM in Yaounde on February 18, 2016.

The decentralisation process is taking another twist with the effective take-off of the pilot phase of a FCFA 10 billion worth programme open to all councils to construct low-cost housing for their population. The mayors of Pete-Bandjoun, Ngoumou and Nguibassal councils each signed funding agreements with the General Manager of the Special Council Support Fund for Mutual Assistance, FEICOM, Philippe Camille Akoa, yesterday February 18, 2016 in Yaounde.

According to the agreements, Pete-Bandjoun will receive funding worth FCFA 672 million while Ngoumou and Nguibassal will take home FCFA 495 million each as funding from FEICOM to construct a total of 76 low-cost houses. Presiding over the ceremony, FEICOM’s Board Chair and Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, René Emmanuel Sadi, said the ambitious programme which aims at reducing the nationwide deficit observed in the supply of decent housing, is a follow up to the Framework Partnership Agreement signed on April 3, 2013 between the Housing Loan Fund (NFC), the United Councils and Cities of Cameroon (UCCC) and FEICOM.

 “It will strengthen the council’s role to furnish decent housing within the context of decentralisation, given the shortcomings of specialised institutions to satisfy the needs in housing of the masses,” he said, exhorting them to practice good governance in administering the funds. The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Jean Claude Mbwentchou.

All councils having beyond 10,000 inhabitants are eligible to the programme provided they show proof of ownership of land and submit an application, amongst other conditions. The loans are refundable within 20 years.