Point of Order: Minister Nkili’s Bafia dance-type decision to check road accidents

US leading author, political theorist, politician, civic activist, statesman, diplomat and many more, Benjamin Franklin tells us that “a little neglect may breed great mischief”.

And it came to past that on October 18, 2014, a truck on a test drive by a mechanic ran into a nearby shop in the Biyem Assi neighbourhood in Yaounde. Several were students who died on the spot in excruciating pains while others obtained serious injuries and had some of their body parts amputated.

The death toll, though conflicting, rose up to not less than 17. It is even said that it was the second time the ‘off-the-road’ truck was running into people and buildings.

About the same time two months ago, three lives were lost on the Yoke Bridge along the Kumba-Buea highway. The accident did not just claimed lives and inflicted injuries on victims but hampered traffic flow for over three hours. Thereafter, there were spates of accidents across the national territory. The accidents which occurred in almost quick succession claimed lives as usual at a frightening rate.

I heard of the Yaounde-Akonolinga road accident in which seven people could not cheat death. I equally have in mind the awful “Falaise” accident around Dschang with ominous consequences.

As if not enough, last September 30, a trailer transporting a 20-feet container lost control in Ndokoti in Douala due to brake system failure. The accident which occurred at rush hour could only result to a bloodbath. It is even sad to note that similar massacres happened in the same vicinity in 2009 and 2011.

Recently too, three lives perished in the Mvan neighbourhood in Yaounde, resulting from a crash between a military truck and a cab. These accidents, be it minor or grave, happen almost every day in our towns, cities and highways. According to a World Life Expectancy statistics of 2011, Cameroon occupied the 24th position in road traffic accident in the world. Approximately 32.6 per 100 000 are said to have died due to road accidents.

The above disturbing figures, plus other national road accident statistics carried out by trustworthy organisations leave many indifferent that road transport officials in Cameroon are joking.

The authorities of the ministry of transport as well as the forces of law and order can be blamed for gross negligence as John Oxford asserts: “We would be guilty of negligence if we just sat on our hands and waited.”

And behold, the minister of transport, Robert Nkili even confirmed to reporters that he only got news of the tragic Biyem Assi incident the following day because he was attending the funeral of President Biya’s mother-in-law in Mvomeka’a.

It is obviously none of my business if Minister Nkili cried in Mvomeka’a in a bid to protect his juicy position but what bothers me is that the transport boss hastily signed an order reiterating the prohibition of circulation for heavy duty trucks in city centres between 6a.m and 9p.m.

In what can be best described as a Bafia dance wherein dancers unceasingly gesticulate forward and backward, Nkili again went back to his very own decision to exempt certain categories of ‘killer’ trucks even before his initial decision could be taken with a pinch of salt.

Both decisions, just like similar ones before 1980, are just as ineffective as any other decisive ministerial decision in this country. Heavy duty trucks loaded with sand, cement, iron rods, timber, and so on can still be seen circulating unperturbed within the city centres.

What was the minister even thinking before taking this decision? Did he forget that the Douala port works 24/24 and serves other countries in the CEMAC sub-region? How can Minister Nkili easily forget that heavy duty trucks have to transport ‘slow poison’ during the day to quell flaring tampers that are frustrated with the regime?

Anyway, Minister Nkili should know that he was taking the second step before the first. Even if he threatens to stop circulation of trucks for 18 hours a day, that will not solve the problem of frequent road accidents.

The minister should tell his boys not to issue driving licenses to incompetent and reckless drivers after receiving phone calls or bribes. Nkili must also ensure that road worthiness certificates are issued only to vehicles that are technically fit and those that are a time bomb should be immediately put off the road or even confiscated for recycling.

Truck drivers on their part must shun alcohol, get enough rest and be absolutely prudent while on the steer wheel. The police, gendarmes, toll gate officers and other road safety agents must depart from unpatriotic doings.

They must ensure vehicles, especially truck drivers respect road signs, speed limits, weight limits and other aspect that can cause untold damage.

Only by so doing can we start thinking of a reduction in the number of road accidents. God be our helper!