For several years, the Babadjou–Bamenda road has been a reminder of the crisis affecting the North West Region of Cameroon. A vital gateway to the rest of Cameroon, the 59.9 km stretch became almost impassable, stalled by conflict, insecurity and contractor withdrawals. Traders lost markets, farmers watched harvests rot, and communities endured isolation as development slowed to a crawl.
That story has taken a different turn in the last few months culminating on Wednesday 17 September 2025 when Prime Minister, Head of Government, Chief Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute, arrived in Bamenda to commission Lots I and II of the Babadjou–Bamenda road. The ribbon-cutting marked the completion of works that began in 2017 under the Ministry of Public Works with an estimated cost of FCFA 113 billion.
The project, initially awarded to French company Sogea Satom, suffered a major setback in October 2021 when non-state armed groups attacked and destroyed equipment on site. The company abandoned the contract, forcing years of lobbying before indigenous firm BUNS stepped in. Though the contract was divided into three lots, BUNS eventually carried the full burden and has now delivered the much-awaited road which is a key link in the Yaoundé–Enugu corridor.
Speaking after the commissioning, the Prime Minister described the road as more than a stretch of asphalt:
“These roads are for your comfort, for your benefit, a gift of the Head of State… We should take ownership of these roads and ensure they are preserved.”
The Prime Minister’s one-day working visit also included stops at other long-awaited projects in Bamenda like the inspection of the BMM C2D road project, the Mile IV Bridge and administrative block at the Mile IV Market, the North West Regional Assembly, the Governor’s Office leisure park, the BUNS construction base, and Commercial Avenue in Bamenda’s heart.
He capped the visit with the laying of a foundation stone for the Bamenda Urban Crossing Project, jointly funded by C2D–MINHDU, MINTP and the World Bank.
For a population battered by conflict, bad roads and economic decline, the projects symbolise hope. Traders see the possibility of revived links with Bafoussam, Douala and Nigeria. Farmers anticipate lower transport costs and reduced post-harvest losses. Urban dwellers expect relief from chronic congestion.
Beyond economics, the Prime Minister’s visit was also political. Just weeks ahead of the 12 October presidential election, Dion Ngute tied the delivery of infrastructure directly to President Paul Biya’s commitments. He called on separatist sympathisers to “join in this peace initiative” and urged the population to see the projects as a sign that promises, however delayed, can be kept.
By Hilltopvoices Newsroom
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