The Southwest Regional Branch Manager for the Special Council Support Fund for Mutual Assistance, FEICOM, Margaret Nkwetta nee Tanyi-Mbianyor, has told the Mayors of Muyuka and KonyeCouncils that, at the moment, her outfit cannot fund any electrification projects within their council areas, when the councils cannot recover the money invested.
“My GM does not really think such projects can come through FEICOM because, as soon as we are done, SONEL or ENEO will immediately come and install their meters and will start collecting the proceeds,” Nkwetta said.
She was responding to pleas for electricity and water that were made to FEICOM by the Mayors of Muyuka and Konye during celebrations in Limbe to mark FEICOM’s 40th anniversary in the Region.
The Mayor of Konye, George Musima Lobe, stated that his Council area has 36 village settlements and only one, Ekiliwindi, out of this lot has electricity. He further stated that, in a drive to extend electricity to the other villages, his Council had applied for funding from FEICOM but was not getting a positive answer.
The Mayor ofMuyuka Council, Michael Nkengcorroborated his colleague of Konye with the cry of his own people in the Bafia, Munyenge andIkata communities. “We are begging on you with tears in our eyes that FEICOM should help us help these communities with water and electricity,” Mayor Nkeng pleaded.
It was in reaction to the above plea that Nkwetta said FEICOM was reticent to fund, especially, electricity projects within the Council areas because, at the end the electricity utility company, ENEO, will simply come, install their metres and start tapping from where they did not sow. She said FEICOM had, initially, engaged a partnership negotiation with the defunct AES SONEL.
The partnership, which she hopes, the FEICOM GM will continue the negotiations with ENEO will permit FEICOM to electrify villages and Councils will collect the consumption payments for some years and then hand over to ENEO after recovering the total sum of their investment.
“Electrification needs a huge investment and we are cautious on how we use the people’s money,” Nkwetta said.
The Limbeeventwas part of a nationwide celebration of FEICOM’s ruby jubilee, since its creation in 1974, with its mission being that of supporting Councils carry out income generating projects that are of benefit to the Councils and to the people.
For the past four decades, FEICOM has financed projects ranging from the construction of Council buildings such as the Buea, Tiko, Limbe II, Bafut and Kumba I Councils. They have built markets, school blocks and carried out water supply projects in some municipality.
“FEICOM is looking forward to financing more socio-economic and infrastructural projects, which are income-generating in nature,” Nkwetta said.
Nkwetta also stated that FEICOM was already looking for ways to better arm itself financially for they will soon have to start financing mejor projects such as municipal stadiums, high-tech municipal ambulances and heavy duty equipment pools which Councils can use to construct and open up roads to enclaved areas within their municipalities.
The Secretary General at the Southwest Governor’s Office, Clement FonNdikum, thanked FEICOM and urged the Councils to make judicious use of the assistance provided by FEICOM.
“We wish FEICOM to continue to play an essential role in uplifting the lives of the populations in our different Council areas. We still have a lot to expect from FEICOM,” Fon Ndikum said.
