Nigeria and the Republic of Cameroon have officially launched construction of N13bn Bamenda-Enugu Multinational highway commonly referred to as the Trans-African highway.
The project was unveiled by the Minister of Works, Nigeria, Mr. Mohammed Daggash, and the Minister of Public Works, Cameroon, Mr. Bernard Avom, at the joint Border Post site, Mfum, Cross River State.
On completion, the 443km road will cut across 203km Bamenda-Mamfe-Ekok Road section in Cameroon and 240km Mfum-Ikom-Mbok road which includes Ogoja-Abakiliki-Enugu road section.
Specifically, Nigeria section of the road will witness pavement strengthening of Ikom-Mfum road; reconstruction of Abakiliki Mbok road; rehabilitation of Enugu-Abakiliki road and building of a joint border post at Mfum to accommodate border officials of Nigeria and Cameroon.
On the Cameroonian axis, the project is expected to rehabilitate Bamenda-Batibo road; Bachuo-Mamfe road: develop paving of Batibo-Numbe road and construct a bridge over River Munaya.
Daggash said the programme was conceived as one of the confidence-building measures to strengthen relations between the countries following the International Court of Justice judgement that ceded Bakassi Peninsular to Cameroon.
He explained that the project was assisted with $161m by the African Development Bank and $330m from the World Bank.
According to him, each of the benefiting countries will provide 10 per cent counterpart funding, adding that the project is awarded to a Chinese firm, CCECC, Nigeria Limited.
When completed, he said the road would enhance commercial activities in the West African sub-region and dilute political differences between Nigeria and Cameroon.
He added that the project would engender construction of social and market infrastructure such as feeder roads, market sheds, drying areas for agricultural products and fencing and rehabilitation of school infrastructure.
The road, he said, would remove obstacles to the free flow of traffic by limiting the number of checkpoints and controlling axle load.
He, nonetheless, appealed to host communities to guarantee safety of the contractors and their equipment, emphasising that the project would enhance inter-country peace and integration.
The ceremony was witnessed by the Minister of State for Works, Mr. Chris Ogiemwonyi and the Deputy Senate Leader, Mr. Victor Ndoma-Egba.
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