[size=14pt]Govt Flags Off Nigeria-Cameroun Highway Project[/size]
SATURDAY, 19 JUNE 2010 00:00 FROM ANIETIE AKPAN, CALABAR NEWS - NATIONAL

IN a major boost to transnational link, the 420 kilometre Bameda-Enugu corridor project which is part of the Pan African highway was flagged off on Thursday by the Minister for Works, Mohammed Sanusi Daggash and his Cameroonian counterpart, Bernard Avom in boundary communities of Ajasso in Nigeria and Ekok in Cameroun,


The road is expected to run from Bamenda through Ekok in Cameroon through Mfum in Ikom, Abakiliki and Enugu in Nigeria.
 
The project facilitated by the African Development Bank, the World Bank, the Japanese International Corporation Agency as well as the governments of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Republic of Cameroon among others, intends to improve the already strained relationship between the two countries as 40 cities are expected to grow from it.

Daggash said, “The road is necessary to facilitate movement, commerce and to strengthen our economy and politically dilute the differences we have had for over 100 years.”



On the Nigerian end, the corridor is made up of two lots, Daggash said adding that the first lot will be completed within 24 months and the second will be completed in 15 months.
Work at the Cameroon side is said to be at an advanced stage as the Minister of Public Utilities of the Republic of Cameroon described the launching of the programme as “tangible proof of the atmosphere of trust that now reigns between our two countries.” 

President of ADB group, Donald Kaberuka represented by Regional Director, West and Central Africa, Mr. Janvier Litse, described the corridor as a step forwards towards implementing the NEPAD short-term action plan that aims at promoting accelerated growth and sustainable development, eradicating generalized and extreme poverty and ending Africa's marginalization in the globalization process.


 

Kaberuka said in order to sustain the works, plans have been made to build weighing stations and install weigh bridges, and in that regard encourage both countries to speed up measures aimed at harmonizing the axle load permissible on the highway to enable unhindered flow of cargo throughout the corridor.

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/

Should they not be trying to connect the cities within
Nigeria first?

You dey ask me?. Ask those who plan to build a rocket when their runways are filled with pot holes.

How is it a white elephant project? It's a road not a west African high speed rail corridor. It can be maintained if funds are set aside for it yearly. It's not like Nigeria can't handle it, it's just a matter if politicians take the initiative to keep the road in good shape, and the benefits definitely outway the cost. Is building the highway a bad thing? Nigeria trading more with neighboring Cameroon, heck even other African nations, could increase economic growth.

All over the world, trans- continental and international highways are been built to facilitate road travel. it is a good one by nigeria trying to access central africa just like the west african highway through Benin republic.

this people are just mad, charity they says begins at home, do ur country road first b4 another

Aloy+Emeka:

You dey ask me?. Ask those who plan to build a rocket when their runways are filled with pot holes.

Eddeux:

How is it a white elephant project? It's a road not a west African high speed rail corridor. It can be maintained if funds are set aside for it yearly. It's not like Nigeria can't handle it, it's just a matter if politicians take the initiative to keep the road in good shape, and the benefits definitely outway the cost. Is building the highway a bad thing? Nigeria trading more with neighboring Cameroon, heck even other African nations, could increase economic growth.

Why not repair your local roads first?

doyin13:

Should they not be trying to connect the cities within
Nigeria first?

Aloy+Emeka:

Why not repair your local roads first?

odiaero:

this people are just mad, charity they says begins at home, do your country road first b4 another

[size=14pt]Is this highway not going to go through cities within S.E Nigeria?[/size]

Mariory:

Is this highway not going to go through cities within S.E Nigeria? Or do you think the road will be airborne when completed?

More like through the cities in South-South up till Cameroun.

Aloy+Emeka:

More like through the cities in South-South up till Cameroun.

Ok so what exactly is the problem then? Why do you suggest it's a white elephant project?

Mariory:

Ok so what exactly is the problem then? Why do you suggest it's a white elephant project?

Because there are more inportant roads to take care of. How many Nigerians travels to cameroun by road?. Unless the governor is ready to build a road from Enugu to NY.

Dont be so pessimistic how do you know it is a white elephant projext when it just began,
Do you know what white elephant project is

xterra2:

Dont be so pessimistic how do you know it is a white elephant projext when it just began,
Do you know what white elephant project is

God gave you brains so you can reason with it, not just for watching only po/rn.

This is a world bank project which only involves the two countries paying their counterparts funds,so no qualms about it since it's not a nigeria initiative per se.

Aloy+Emeka:

Why not repair your local roads first?

I understand why reparing your local roads first makes since, and like already said it's running through south-south Nigeria at least a few cities/towns/villages will have a new highway running through. I don't think just b/c something in one's country needs reparing doesn't mean that they shouldn't go ahead w/ doing something else that may benefit the country just b/c the main priority (i.e. roads) aren't up-to-par, if you get what I mean

Aloy+Emeka:

God gave you brains so you can reason with it, not just for watching only po/rn.

Sharap you! you didnt answer my question,,,is it only porn you know?

Prior to 1960's, Easterners took Cameroun as their backyard and made frequent trips to and fro. The lineation of National boundaries made Cameroun and Easterners become foreign to each other. Not sure if the project is financially viable, but it may open up old links which have since been closed.

Aloy+Emeka:

Why not repair your local roads first?

Any infrastructure project in nigeria is not a white elephant in my opinion. and for the fact about "local" roads, isnt that what your state and local gov are for. this is a federal highway. the federal gov is for interstate issues not intra.

Yes, it is a Green-White-Green elephant project.

Are Cameroonians planning on doing massive business in Nigeria via this highway? Even if you "exit" from this road, how good are those roads leading to your village?

We havent even dualized many roads linking the East to the West, the West to the North, etc, nor built our second Niger bridge.

What about visas to Cameroun, are they going to increase the number of Cameroun visas issued to Nigerians because dem sabi deny Nigerians visa?

Why would you think of this project as a “white elephant”?

First, you have to think of its value to the residents along the corridor where the highway is being built. Many of them may be traders who have long-established trade relationships with partners on the other side of the international border. This is no different from what Lagos is doing along the Lagos-Badagry axis. So, the highway to Cameroon, as well as the Lagos-Badagry expressway, will facilitate cross-border trade.

The highway will also add value to the diplomatic relationship between Nigeria and Cameroon. The unresolved issue over the Bakassi remains a potential flash point between them. Therefore, any action that facilitates communications, commerce, diplomatic and cultural exchanges between two neighboring countries is always beneficial to both parties.

Isn’t Cameroon a member of the West African Economic Union (is that the actual name?). If so, then the road can fulfill the long-term goal of seamlessly connecting the countries within the union by road, rail, water and air.

Beside the above, the road may well facilitate the passage of tanks into Cameroon to take back the Bakassi peninsula. Bakassi, as you may recall, was signed away by Gowon, another one of those semi-illitrate military dictators from northern Nigeria.

Note: the last paragraph about tanks rolling into Cameroon was a jest. The factual statement about Gowon was not.

The highway will also add value to the diplomatic relationship between Nigeria and Cameroon. The unresolved issue over the Bakassi remains a potential flash point between them. Therefore, any action that facilitates communications, commerce, diplomatic and cultural exchanges between two neighboring countries is always beneficial to both parties

You are joking right?

You dont even speak same Language and Camerounians dont like you.

We need good road to connect cities within Nigeria.

We are 150million people, this is massive market alone for us to enjoy!

otawa:

You are joking right?

You dont even speak same Language and Camerounians dont like you.

We need good road to connect cities within Nigeria.

We are 150million people, this is massive market alone for us to enjoy!

Exactly. Do you know how many people who die everyday in Lagos-Ibadan expressway or Enugu-PH expressway  due to bad road conditions and all the govt think is important now is highway to Cameroon?. I am sure that highway to Chad is in the making.

nonsense.
why not build another one to the usa