Minister Jean Claude Mbwentchou launched first phase of the ultramodern social housing project in Douala on May 27, 2016.
Government social housing scheme has indeed changed. No longer will social houses take their usual forms. Government has now shifted to the construction of ultramodern houses with associated modern leisure, sports and commercial facilities. In essence, this is what has been dubbed “Cité des Cinquantenaires,” whose construction in the metropolis of Douala and Yaounde has been launched.
In his capacity as President of the Interministerial committee charged with the project, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Jean Claude Mbwentchou, while launching the first phase of construction project in Douala May 27, disclosed that, while waiting to lay the foundation stone in October this year, the project has witnessed a satisfactory progress with the roles of the different actors made known.
Work for the first phase include the construction of an ultramodern complex in Douala at the former “Cité des Douanes” in the Bonapriso neighbourhood. Estimated to cost FCFA 24 billion, the complex will contain 450 apartments with 4,000 square metres space for allotted for commercial purposes and 600 parking spaces on 2.2 hectares land. Having secured all needed for the start of work, the executor, China Shanxi Engineering, says it is beginning work in October this year.
The project, which seeks to improve the facelift of the two metropolitan cities, is carried out on the instruction of the Head of State and in line with the government social housing programme. The “Cité des Cinquantenaires” conceived and proposed by Cameroonian architect Ph. Bissek of Cabinet Bissek in Yaounde, has been in gestation since four years. These include the construction of an ultramodern social complex comprising of 1,050 apartments at the former site of “Cite des Douanes” in Bonapriso, and 1,000 apartments at the Vallée Djoungolo of the Hippodrome neighbourhood in Yaounde. The structures in the two cities will have commercial centres, offices, swimming pools, among other leisure facilities.
Concerning the “Cité des Douanes” demolished in 2015, an ultramodern social complex will be constructed for customs officers at New Bell TSF. Dubbed “Nouvelle Cité des Douanes,” the complex will have 350 apartments and associated facilities such as a multi-sports complex, an academic complex, commercial section and offices, swimming pool.
