Underdevelopment: University of Bamenda chokes under abandoned projects

The excitement that gripped the Bamenda community in 2017 when the baby university successfully hosted the 2017 university games has now died down with permanent scares of frustration.

Sporting infrastructure that were constructed to host the games have been abandoned.

The worst of it all is the inner campus road network that was far advanced when the games took place. It has now been reduced to something that looks like the draft drawings of an ancient architect.

Immediately after the games ended, the contactors that were doing the roads inside the university all dismantled their machines and took off citing insecurity. The road network that was almost at 70% completion have been washed away by the rains. Some of the road are even impassable.

The University Entrance Project

Just when the many a Bambili resident were about benefitting from the proceeds of hosting a university, especially the business operators, last October saw the Tubah Council ordering the mass demolition of shops along the university entrance.

The story that calmed down many was that the university entrance was to be constructed with a two way access road, making the entrance befitting to the university. Between October 2020 and September 202, the project that can be evaluated at 60% has again been abandoned. This time it’s alleged the money meant for the project has been embezzled in Yaoundé and the current contractor can’t continue with the work.


From Mud To Dust

According to some students who left the university after their final exams planning to return this December for the convocation ceremony, they are disappointed that they left the university when everywhere was muddy and shall be coming back when everywhere shall be dusty.

It should be noted that the company, Edge, executing the project had to bulldoze the road all the way from Bambui Four Corners right up to the university and with the wet season gradually giving way, one can imagine the dust that shall follow suit.

Timfuchi Aaron