North West Region: Minister Eloundou lays Foundation stone of landmark Gas Plant in Bamenda

Minister Eloundou posing the foundation stone

The Minister of water resources and Energy,  Eloundou Essomba Gaston, has revealed that the price surges the population of the North West region suffers on the cost of domestic gas will soon be a thing of the past. 

Representing the Prime Minister and Head of Government,  Minister Eloundou made this declaration in Bamenda on Saturday November 5, 2022, while laying the foundation stone for the Construction of an ultramodern LPG filling centre at the Bangshie neigbourhood in

Bamendakwe.

The minister intimated that:

"As far as the consumption of domestic gas is concerned,  Bamenda already has a huge market but often suffers from exhurbitant prices. More so, the coming of the plant has the advantage of creating employment for sons and daughters of the Region, and reducing the risks of

handling gas cylinders from Bafoussam to Bamenda which is 80km away. 

"Beyond the comfort the plant brings to the general public by minimising the risks of gas shortage, the presence of this filling centre in Bamenda, will contribute to the consolidation of efforts such as advocated by the Head of State, His Excellency Paul BIYA with the view to revitalise our economy".

And the high dependency on gas will reduce the usage of coal and wood, create jobs and revitalise the local economy,"  Minister Eloundou added.

GM CSPH, Okie Johnson Ndoh

In his own declaration, the General Manager of

the Hydrocarbons Prices Stabilisation Fund (CSPH), Okie Johnson Ndoh,  stated that the gas plant is the 3rd in the Nation, after that of Maroua (2005) and Bertoua in 2015 and is the most modern in the country as at now. Okie added that:

"The Hydrocarbons Prices Stabilisation (HPSF) has opted for the construction 8of these LPG filling centres in regional headquarters, then eventually extend sub centres in  the Divisional headquarters. This deployment of filling centres is in line with the Government's policy to combat deforestation and improve the quality of life of the population.

Prof. Fru Angwafo III,  President of the NW Regional Assembly 

On his part, the President of the North

West Regional Assembly President, Prof Fru Angwafor III, stated that dependence on domestic gas will go a long way to fight deforestation and protect the ozone layer.

The gas plant will also help reduce the use of coal and wood,  hence reducing the dangers of some respiratory diseases. He added.

Prof Angwafo also used the opportunity to request  for the devolution of the competent powers to the regions to drive local development and enhance the Decentralization process of local governance. 

Paul Achombang 

Bamenda City Mayor

In his welcome address, Bamenda City Mayor,  Paul Achombang, pronounced that with the coming of the gas plant, there is already a ready market of about 2.5 million people scattered all over the  region to consume. He equally added that the facility will eliminate middlemen and put an end to the black market syndrome that brings about the price hikes of cooking gas.

The city mayor added that, "the North West Region loses close to

2,000FCFA for every 12 L cylinder gas bottle sold. Which means as the price of gas rises, the region loses about 2.8 billion FCFA in a year. 

The 24 months project costs 5.6 billion

FCFA that will be constructed on a

land area of 6 hectares will have a total storage capacity of 200 MT,  and will comprise:

Four LPG Tanks with a capacity of 50 Metric Tons each, a carousel of twelve stations, a fire water tank, a gas filling hall, a generator,  product and fire pumping station, two nitrogen and air compressors, an engineering building, a maintenance building, a clinic, cafeteria, playground, two security buildings, Control equipment and  two weighbridges etc.

It should be noted that, an LPG filling centre is a technical facility for storing and filling gas. This is where gas cylinders are filled and later returned after consumption. From there, the distribution of gas is ensured by marketers who work in gas distribution and storage in Cameroon, namely: SCTM, AFRIGAZ, BOCOM, Green Oil, Stan Gaz etc". "The Bamenda Gas Plant consists of four gas tanks with a capacity of 50 metric tons each; one fire water tank, one gas filling hall, one generator, one product and fire. He added.

By VictoryMarshal Ayafor Basang 

Ruby jubilee of New Deal Government celebrated in style in the North West Region

Popping and sipping of the anniversary Champaign

Militants of the Cameroon people’s Democratic Movement, (CPDM) joined the rest of the Nation last, November 6, 2022, to commemorate the ruby anniversary of the party in strict compliance with COVID 19 barrier measures. The day was marked by celebrations of Biya's achievements in 40 years.

Former Prime Minister Philemon Yang 

Appreciating Biya's development efforts and strides at the helm of the Nation, the Regional Permanent Coordinator for the North West, former Prime Minister Philemon Yang stated that:

"It has been 40 years of excellent leadership with Political development such as democratisation, Decentralization and the special status, economic development such as heavy infrastructure and productive industries, banks and financial institutions etc, socio-cultural development like primary, secondary and teriary educational institutions at all levels , universities and hospitals in all parts of the country".

Militants at the commercial Avenue ceremonial ground 

One of the key achievements North West militants celebrated is the special anniversary gift the Head of state gave the Region - the laying of the foundation stone for a LPG filling centre in Bamenda, on November 5, 2022, by the Minister of Water Resources and Energy.

40 years since his accession to the Supreme magistracy on November 6, 1982, President Paul Biya is celebrated as the leader who brought democracy and multi-partism to Cameroon. Moreso, he has consistently consolidated efforts for a great cameroon of One people, one nation with a prosperous future.

The North West militants further praised President Biya for the ceaseless efforts of the government to peacefully resolve the anglophone crisis, manifested through various decisions taken to address the corporate and socio-political grievances of the people.

The Ruby anniversary was celebrated under the theme: "Let us further strengthen our mobilisation behind President Paul Biya to jointly pursue a nation building actions with one heart, peace and stability under the prism and spirit of National New Deal." And the North West militants used the opportunity to jointly reaffirmed their unwavering support for President Paul Biya and His lofty ideals.

Prof. Jean Kuete giving his key note address 

The celebration was presided over by Prof Jean Kuete, former Vice Prime Minister, Secretary General of the CPDM central committee. In his key note address, Prof Jean Kuete recalled the need for all the sons and daughters of the North West Region to get actively involved in peace building and local development. "Let us further strengthen our loyalty and mobilisation behind President Paul Biya to jointly pursue nation building actions with one heart, peace and stability in the spirit of the new deal". He added.

Minister Mbayu Felix 

During the celebration, Cameroon's Minister Delegate at the Ministry of External Relations in charge of the Commonwealth, Felix Mbayu, who doubles as the Secretary of the follow up committee for the Implementation of the resolutions of the Major National Dialogue, recounted the key achievements of the Major National Dialogue 3 years after:

Achievements such as the promulgation of Law No 2019/024 instituting the General Code of Regional and Local Authorities. Granting a special status to the North West and South West Regions and setting in place the office of Public Independent Concilliator that resolves disputes between the municipal Authorities and users of the councils, the creation of the National School of local Administration, NASLA and the devolving of 4 other powers to the region. In the domain of Transport, Tourism, Environment and Urban Development, the creation within the supreme court of a special bench to review appeals against decisions in English as well as redeployment of Magistrates, the putting in place of the Presidential Plan for the reconstruction and Development of the North West and South West Regions is another key fall out of the Major National Dialogue, rehabilitation of Ex-fighters who took up arms against the state ongoing at the DDR Centres in Bamenda, Buea and Mora. Also the abolition of the position of appointed Government Delegates replaced by Elected City Mayors.

The 40th anniversary celebration in Bamenda took a regional conotation with representions from all the 7 Divisions and 34 sections of the Region.

By VictoryMarshal Ayafor Basang