Atanga Nji blames population for building in risk zones

The Minister of territorial administration, Paul Atanga Nji has said Cameroonians should take full responsibility and face the consequences of their actions when they choose to build in swampy or risky zones instead of putting all the blames on the government. The Minister was speaking this March 1, 2023 in Yaounde at the ceremony marking the celebration of the 33rd edition of world civic defense day under the theme “Role of information Technology in Risk Assessment”.

“There is no justification for building houses in areas you know may one day bring pain to your families and loved ones yet cameroonians decide to build mostly on swampy areas. We have been talking about the dangers of this following the incident that happened in Damas, Yaounde where so many persons lost their lives. It is high time Cameroonians take responsibilities over their own actions and stop blaming everything on the government. We cannot protect you when dangers come and even the Head of State President Paul Biya has instructed me to ensure that all the houses built on risky zones should be demolished,” Paul Atanga Nji declared.

The Minister also encouraged Mayors to ensure that their cities do not allow houses to be built around swampy areas.

“We do not like to build on swampy areas but that is what is available. Now in Cameroon it is very hard to find land to buy and even when you do, it is often very expensive,” Theodore Mencheng who is an inhabitant of Yaounde said.

Paul Atanga Nji emphasized on the buildings around Mimboman neighbourhood in Yaounde and has ordered the house owners to relocate.

“When the government is asking us to move out of our homes, is it that they will compensate us or we sleep on the streets? In every nation no matter what the government does, there must be slums. I am not justifying us building where we are but atleast we should be adequately compensated,” Rose Thimah Akenji an inhabitant of this neighborhood complained.

“It is better to be safe than sorry. No one saw the incident in Damas coming and with so many disasters around the world, Cameroon cannot have such,” Atanga Nji added.

The territorial administration boss ended by saying that every citizen’s safety is top priority to the government and if keeping the population safe means getting people out of their homes by force, the government will do so.