Interview: “Social public transport should be practised”

Ayuketah Pamela, Littoral Regional Delegate of Transport, explains the critical traffic situation in Douala.

"I can confirm effectively that the city of Douala is experiencing more traffic lately. This is due to many factors, the most important of which are the various construction sites geared towards upgrading the urban infrastructure policy of President Paul Biya aimed at having an emerging Cameroon in the year 2035.

"The works on major roads, the second Wouri Bridge and most recently the demolishing of “Cité des Douanes” in Douala can be cited as the main causes of traffic which will lighten traffic after all. Congestion is due to the number of vehicles and not their ages; even though we expect old cars to break down more easily.

"I think that better policies like social public transport system practiced already by SOCATUR should be encouraged to enable us reduce the number of private cars on circulation.

"Nevertheless, at the end of on-going great projects, there shall be a natural reduction of traffic. In the short run, the City Council has installed road signs in some streets especially in Akwa and Bonanjo, but in the long run, the traffic problem shall be resolved naturally at the end of these projects".