Ndian SDO frowns over abandoned Projects

The Senior Divisional Officer, SDO, for Ndian, Ntou’ou Ndong Chamberlin, has expressed worry and disappointment over the manner in which project are abandoned in the Bakassi Peninsular despite efforts of the government of Cameroon, in the transformation of the area.

The abandonment of projects in the Bakassi area is really a curse and something need to be done.

The SDO is reported to have opined. He expressed these worries while in a three days contact tour to the Peninsular from November 3rd to 5th, that took him to the Bakassi Peninsular, in Ndian Division of the South West Region.

From Isangelle to Kombo Abedimo, passing through Ngosso and Barracks in Kombo Itindi, to Idabato and Bamusso sub Divisions following the high sea and the creeks, the SDO of Ndian who took over command in this rich oil Division on June 6th, 2014 and a powerful 32 man delegation which included, the Divisional Delegates of Secondary Education, Sube Keme Stephen, Basic Education, HRH Chief Oru Oru Peter, MINEPAT Delegate HRH Chief Fotsap Dorminic, Agriculture, State Property and Land Tenure ,Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries, Humbus Marcus and the District Medical Officer, DMO, for the Bakassi Peninsular, couldn’t believe their eyes when they realised that majority of the priority projects for the Bakassi peninsular have not only been abandoned but badly executed with some already dilapidating just about two years on.

Some of the projects visited includes, modern constructed classrooms including staff residential areas in Isangelle and Kombo Abedimo, Modern VIP latrines, the FEICOM sponsored Council Chambers of Kombo Abedimo, health centers, and some water catchments.

However the SDO regretted the fact that some contractors don’t have the country at heart. He frowned at some abandoned projects which the contractors have abandoned in the bush, despite the fact that government has spent hundreds of millions.

Some of the abandoned projects include the Isangelle Council Chambers estimated at FCFA 250million which the SDO described as a ”cocoa store” the Water Catchment and the Public security buildings, while in Kombo Itindi the SDO was worried over the abandoned Frontier Police Station, in Bamusso was the Divisional Officers Residence and that of the Brigade Commander.

Meanwhile, the SDO was informed by the authorities of the various administrative unities visited, that despite government efforts in providing better classrooms, with teachers, the various schools have little or no enrollment like the case of SAR/SM Isangelle and Kombo Abedimo where only the Director of the schools are the only occupants of the beautiful offices and classrooms.

The SDO,Ntou’ou Ndong Chamberlin told the population ,that he was visiting them to know them and understand their problems so that they can jointly handle those at their level and the forward the rest to the powers that be which he will personally follow up.

He cautioned them on the need for hygiene and sanitation in order to avoid epidemics like, Cholera and the Ebola Virus especially as they are sharing a common boundary with Nigeria though declared Ebola Free by the WHO. The population was advice to construct toilets in their homes, in order to enhance better hygiene and sanitation conditions.

He equally called on the population to send their children to school shun against illegal exploitation of Forest, avoid poor fishing method that is rampant in the area. The SDO observed that, the Peninsular is a strategic point for the government reasons why the population should be watchful and denounced any illegal immigrant.

Following complaints by the various Mayors in the area about the absentee nature of civil servants in the area especially teachers, the SDO, announced that in no distance time he shall begin suspending salaries of wayward civil servants, if such complaints files reach his office.

Being a Nigerian dominated populated area; the SDO reminded them that as from January 2015 they will start paying all the various documents like the resident permits if they have not decided to declare their nationality either as Cameroonian or Nigerians and other taxes.

On their part, the various Mayors while thanking government for doing much in transforming the Bakassi Peninsular into an Eldorado, equally showered praises to the Head of State, President Paul Biya for reinforcing security in the area with the BIR always present which has contributed greatly to eradicate the frequent attacks on the population by pirates.

Like Oliver Twist, however they still asked for more, such as the construction of various fish markets, the construction of the Mundemba-Isangelle-Akwa road, more schools, the betterment of the conditions of civil servants in the area, the provision of electricity, portable water especially in Kombo Itindi where water is found everywhere but there is none to drink, the construction of an embankment to avoid water erosion and the need for communications network so that they can be able chat with the peers outside the peninsular The various Mayors also stressed on the need to raise the area into a Division.

This was especially the worry of Mayoe Mbongo Alfred who expressed the need of a Ndongorer Division with Ekondo Titi as the headquarter and the need for more security elements like in Bamusso.

Part of the contact tour saw the SDO catapulted with numerous traditional titles.In Ekondo-Titi he was honoured with the Title of ”Dibotu”, literally translated as Guarantor of peace security and development by the Ekondo Titi Chiefs Conference,while in Bamusso he was own by the Bamusso Traditional Rulers with the Title of ”museki wa nganda” literally translated as a pathfinder in development.