African Integration: Hurdles of Movements of goods and People Son the Bamenda-Mamfe-Ekok-Ikom–Abakaliki–Enugu Corridor Since 2014
- February 6, 2019
- Posted by: RSIS
- Category: Social Science
International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume III, Issue I, January 2019 | ISSN 2454–6186
Prof. Simon Tata Ngenge
Vice Dean, Faculty of Law and Political Science, University of Bamenda, Cameroon
I. INTRODUCTION
The trans-community road Bamenda-Enugu corridor is 443 km long. The Cameroon road sections Bamenda-Mamfe- Ekokis 203 km and the Nigeria road sections Mfum-Ikom-Abakiliki-Enuguis 204 km. The road network cuts across the North-West and South West Regions of Cameroon and Cross River, Ebonyi and Enugu states of Nigeria. The project was financed by African Development Bank (ADB) , borrowers Cameroon and Nigeria. It was constructed by China Communication Construction Company (CCCC) and CIMA International as control mission between July 2008 and December 2013. The total length of the road was divided into three lots, the first lot from Bamenda-Batibo-Numba, while the second phase from Numba- Bacou-Akajbe and the third links Mamfe-Ekok border.
The Project has a considerable socio-economic dimension, and its environmentally sustainable. Its total cost appraisal was 423 US million dollars, of which the bank provided 288 million US dollars loan and a grant of 25million US dollars. The balance was financed by the World Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Government of Nigeria, Government of Cameroon and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The construction of the Highway was a revolution as a journey in yesteryears referred to as a night mare changed into a beautiful reality, the tarred road and other additional structures pave an important part linking the North-west through Mamfe-Ekok in the South-west regions towards Nigeria. The 64.258 km Bamenda-Batibo-Numba is along the National Road No. 6 on the Bamenda-Mamfe-Ekok-Enugu corridor. This project was in line with the African integration policy of linking regions. The road therefore helped to reinforce cooperation between the countries of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) and those of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and especially between Cameroon and Nigeria. Thus among other things the trans-community highway was to remove obstacles to free flow of traffic, limit the number of checkpoints and regulate axle load.
