http://www.rsdt.gov.ng/rsdt2/index.php/media-centre/173-why-world-bank-and-afdb-are-financing-nigeria-cameroun-highway


The transformation agenda of government will largely remain unfulfilled without a critical infrastructure like good and motorable roads, required to move people, goods and services around the nation. While budgetary allocation of roads development is facing setback, the intervention of the World Bank (WB) and African Development Bank (AfDB) has become a welcome gesture. In this interview, the Unit Manager of the Road Sector Development Team (RSDT), Engr. Ishaq Mohammed explains the various interventions by the bank in the country’s road rehabilitation.

Ques: What is the motive for the transnational highway between Nigeria and Cameroun by the World Bank and AfDB?

Ans: The reason is meant to be a confidence building measure, for the two nations i.e. Nigeria and Cameroun to facilitate trade between the two nations. This was brought out after the fall out of the Bakassi Peninsular issue, the United Nations (UN) thought of these projects to integrate the two nations together. That is the whole concept behind the financing of these projects by these multilateral organizations. The UN actually wanted the two nations properly integrated together so as to avoid any misgivings or ill feelings between the two neighbouring nations. That is basically the reason for these projects.

Ques: What are the Components of the Enugu-Bamenda Corridor Projectsand Financiers?
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Ans: The rehabilitation work starts from Enugu in Nigeria and ends in a village called Bamenda in the Republic of Cameroun. On the Nigerian side we start from Enugu and terminate at the border with the republic of Cameroun in a small village called Mfum which is in Nigeria at the border of the two Countries. From Mfum the road continues all to Bamenda. Our counterparts in Cameroun are the ones handling the reconstruction work there. From the Nigerian side that is Enugu to Mfum the project is broken into 4 sections. Section one is the Enugu Abakaliki highway project which is about 77km and is being funded by the World Bank, Section two is Abakaliki to Ikom road, usually referred to as ogoja junction. This section is being funded by African Development Bank. The CCECC are the contractors working there. The third section is from Ogoja junction to Ikom, which is being funded by the World Bank. The flag off of this project will commence shortly. The last section is from Ikom to Mfum which is also being fund by ADB. However, AfDB has since started their sections which are the section two and four, while the World Bank is just starting their own which are sections one and three.
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Ques: What is the project timelines or completion timetable?

Ans: In these two sections, the work started two years ago. For instance one section is completed already. The projects actually have a gestation period of 24 months each. Now for the remaining section we have given them a seven months extension that is the one the AfDB are funding. Thismeans that the project will be delivered in August, because the contractor handling the projects has experienced a lot of problems there arising from the nature of the terrain which is very rough. The AfDB graciously extended the period of completion by seven months. So we are hoping that by July or August we shall be out of these sections while the projects would have been delivered. But for the World Bankprojects Enugu Abakaliki-Ogoja-Ikom, it’s a two year period.

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I am really interested in the completion and utilization of this road.I want to see our people from SE and SS travelling to cameroon through this road just thesame way they travel by road to togo and ghana.

This road will be of benefit to Igbo businessmen who would want to venture into economic activities in cameroon.

The Enugu-Bamenda highway gives Eastern Nigeria road access to international markets. Considering the trading capacities of Onisha, Enugu and Aba on the Nigerian side and the difficulty in travelling from Bamenda to other parts of Cameroon, we look forward to high integration in that area. The color of Bamenda will soon change. Though funded by the loan facilities by AfDB and World Bank, it's necessary that credit be given to the Goodluck Jonathan administration for providing cooperation/partnership and expertise through the Federal Ministries of Works and Transport.