Douala V: Secondary-Road maintenance ongoing

Some 400 trucks of laterite have so far been applied to fill major potholes on some roads.

The deplorable condition of secondary roads in the Douala V municipality is on every lip. After the Logpom falling shipping container that killed a couple in their pick-up vehicle, some efforts have been made to salvage the already deplorable situation.

According to the 3rd Deputy Mayor for Douala V, Jacob Kiari, the council is aware of what inhabitants are going through. He said the council, under its new mayor, Gustave Ebanda, have smeared 400 trucks of laterite on roads with dangerous potholes. Some areas privileged to have received part of the laterite include roads at the Cité de Palmier neighbourhood, the General Hospital stretch at Makepe and the Fin Goudron stretch in Mbangue among others.

The council, which is determined to do better, said they cannot do it alone without the help of the government through the Douala City Council since the municipality is really huge. Bad roads in other neighbourhoods like Logpom, Logbessou and Santa Barbara, where powerful structures sprout on a daily bases also deserve a facelift.

However, inhabitants of the council area still decry the horrific nature of roads even with the 400 trucks of laterite thrown already. Though the council is doing its best, the poor drainage system in most areas sweeps away the laterite almost immediately when it rains heavily, an inhabitant, Johanes Fofang disclosed.

“If drainages and good gutters are not constructed, the Council shall always labour for nothing. An example is the area known as Fin Gudron Mbangue where laterite had been applied on the road, not up to a week ago, has been completely swept by flooding,” another inhabitant, Marie Kitio intimated.