We want roads, not automatic toll gates—Cameroonians tell Gov’t

The Cameroon Government is building 14 automatic toll gates on major roads in the country, a move that will contribute to upgrading the country’s road infrastructure and curb corruption.

But many citizens see it inappropriate for modern toll gates to be built on narrow, potholed roads.

An example is the one being built on the Edea-Dibamba stretch in the Sanaga Maritime Division.

This stretch is part of National Road 3 that links Douala, the country’s most populous city, to Yaounde, the political capital.

However, the road leading to the toll gate is in poor condition and is littered with potholes.

On the same National Road 3, another toll gate is under construction along the Tiko-Douala stretch in the South West Region.

This stretch is also old, narrow and contains some potholes, but it appears to be in better shape than many roads in the country.

Some Cameroonians say the government cannot erect a new structure on an old road, without first rehabilitating the road.

They argue that ordinary citizens need good roads to be able to travel safely, not toll gates to enable them donate more money to the government.

“It is awful how they put a toll gate on a terrible road,” said Paul Asong.

“Cameroonians, don’t be deceived. I passed here yesterday and this toll gate is not functioning yet, and to make matters worse, the roads round and about it is so terrible,” he added, referring to the Edea-Dibamba road.

Most roads linking major towns in Cameroon have become “death traps”. The country’s busiest stretch, the Yaounde-Douala road, is in bad shape.

According to a research study published last year, 50 percent of all road accidents that occur in the Southern part of the country happen on this road.

Aside from being very narrow, the road is littered with potholes that have contributed to countless numbers of accidents.

The dismay is that the roads, where toll gates are under construction, generate billions of francs to the government yearly.

Yet, even the one linking the two most important cities in the country remains a laughing stock.

“Who are we kidding? See them building the automatic tolls before you think about building the roads. To get to your thing if we ride on what?” Mr Bonasse said.

To Olivier Deseress, good roads are more of an emergency in the country than automatic toll gates.

“I don’t see how this toll was an emergency for Cameroonians,” he said.

“We pay tolls everywhere, but let’s look at the state of our roads. What’s the point of making multitudes of roads that can’t make a year, and that’s without a joke,” Olivier Deseress added.

Some Cameroonian drivers even went as far as saying they will boycott the new toll gates.

“I refuse to pay a toll to use a road that is in such poor condition,” a driver said.

“I’m calling on all Cameroonians to boycott the toll gate until the government fixes the road,” Martial Ngweki said.

The 14 toll stations shall be constructed in 12 towns – Nsimalen, Mbankomo, Tiko, Edea, Boumyebel, Nkometou, Bayangam, Bafia, Manjo, Bandjo, Matazen and Dschang.

The project that is supervised by the Ministry of Public Works is estimated to cost approximately FCFA 42.6 billion (65 million euros).

They will be managed by TOLLCAM for 20 years. The period is divided into two phases: two years for the execution of the works and 18 years for the operation of the toll gates.

Phase one of the toll gate construction is going on Mbankomo, Boumnyebel, Edéa, Nsimalen, Nkometou, Tiko and Mbanga. The execution rate was at 51 percent in May.

The second phase will involve the construction of seven more toll gates in Bayangam, Bafia, Manjo, Bandja, Matazen, Foumbot and Dschang.