Visionary Reports

The Douala City Council recently held a crucial meeting with local media officials to provide an update on various ongoing urban development projects and future initiatives.

The meeting, the first of its kind this year, took place in the Ruldolp Tokoto Room in Bonanjo.Jennifer Yondo Iwiye, head of the Communication and Public Relations Division of Douala city council (DCC), alongside her deputy, Guy Samuel Ntoh, led the discussions. This annual tradition of engaging with media partners is a key factor in building public trust by the executive committee of the city council, headed by Dr. Roger Mbassa Ndine.However,during the session, key officials presented on current construction sites and upcoming activities. Willy Mbarga, head of studies at the Directorate of Roads, provided extensive details on the city’s road rehabilitation efforts.“Our construction road management division is responsible for maintaining our networks, including visible and unseen infrastructure, public lighting, and vertical and horizontal signaling,” explained Mbarga. “We also conduct numerous internal studies and manage the parking lots within the city “Mbarga highlighted several completed and ongoing priority projects: A significant achievement has been the successful resolution of flooding issues at the tunnel under the water exchanger. “Since it has been raining for practically a month, we have no longer had any flood records on the tunnel,” he stated.Extensive cleaning and rehabilitation of drainage systems have been undertaken, particularly in the central area. The underground network of Bonanjo, neglected for over a decade, has been thoroughly revisited, significantly reducing water accumulation. Similar interventions have occurred in neighborhoods like Akwa and throughout Douala III. Small, mobile units are actively deploying across the city to address potholes and improve road surfaces.

Noteworthy interventions include areas near the Bonabassem bridge a where work has eased congestion for motorists. Sections of the Boulevard de la République, including areas in Vallée Bessengue and leading to the Carrefour Salle des Fêtes, have also seen significant improvements.A major project successfully reconnected the previously isolated population of Ponyendale with the rest of Douala. This involved treating a five-kilometer stretch from the end of the paved road (Carrefour Sergio Polo) to the Bonendale public school, addressing severe obstruction caused by water accumulation. Other re-profiling works are ongoing in Douala III and Douala V to improve traffic flow in residential areas. The airport tunnel now boasts consistent public lighting, a significant improvement from previous years. A rapid intervention team ensures prompt addressing of any power outages. Overall, public lighting has been enhanced across the city, with priority given to key axes like the East entrance and major boulevards.Meanwhile,questions were raised regarding the ongoing rehabilitation work around Sandaga Market to Rond Point Deido, which has caused significant traffic congestion for the past two weeks. Essome John, Director of Roads and Networks, assured the public that these pivotal works would be completed in due course, acknowledging the road’s crucial role in the nation’s economy.While 2025 has presented its share of challenges in project realization, the current pace of developmental projects in key areas such as infrastructure, environment, and the economy is impressive. With six months remaining in the year, there is strong optimism for Douala to achieve significant progress and further enhance its urban landscape.

Henry Wana