Drivers in crisis-hit NW Plead for safer roads
It’s midday at Mobile, a major loading point for drivers plying the Mezam-Ngoketunjia-Bui-Donga Mantung and Boyo axis. Buses are packed and drivers are hoping to load before the end of the day
The little or no rush at the temporary park is becoming rampant, given numerous roadblocks and fuel increments, which have pushed them to double or triple transport fares. Most of them who sought anonymity disclosed that transport within the North West Region has skyrocketed, and passengers are shying away.
“I have been driving from Bamenda in Mezam to Ndop in Ngoketunjia Division for more than fifteen years now and I can say the situation for now is calm. Harassment from “the boys” has reduced thanks to military presence, but the checkpoints are too many. Transport has gone from 1,200 to 2,500″
Another driver on the Bamenda-Fundong stretch in Boyo Division advances that the increase in transport fare is mainly due to huge sums of money they have to disburse on the road “Transport from Mobile-Bamenda to Funding now is 5000 Frs whereas it used to be 1,500 Frs or so… When armed men block roads we charge 10-20 thousand FCFA. The most dangerous part on this stretch is the Four Corner Bambui-Babanki area where these boys harass people day and night and sometimes even kidnap them”. Pa Boy who drives a 5-seat taxi says he does overloading but barely makes gain as controls from uniform men are alarming “there are about 12 controls where you pay 500-1000 Frs between Bamenda and Fundong amounting to close to 13, 500 in a day. Consequently, you come home with little or nothing to even fuel the car for the next day but I can’t just stay home so I continue struggling”
This has been the reality for many drivers who now say the business is draining them. Brother Marcel who runs Bamenda-Kumbo in Bui Division talks of bad roads and separatist attacks “At first Bamenda to Kumbo was 2, 500 Frs, but now, we charge 7000-8000 Frs because the roads are really bad and the non-state armed men pop up randomly asking for huge sums of money. It is even worse for those going to Nkambe in Donga Mantung Division because they very often have to do a detour, passing through Bafoussam in the West Region as a way of reaching their final destination safely. “Passengers used to pay 5000 Frs, but now it is approximately 13, 000 Frs because we have to settle controls on the road and the worst is when we have to pass through the West. It makes the journey long and tiring”
The president of the drivers’ trade union who chose to be identified as Mr. Ayafor for security reasons, revealed that after several talks with local authorities, controls have reduced and security tightened to enable a free flow of activities between Mezam and these other divisions, but he has expressed a wish for the Ring Road under construction to reach Bamenda soon so that the movement of goods and persons will be made easier.
Poor roads, numerous roadblocks, and other issues cited have impacted the socioeconomic lives of the population of the North West, especially in the Mezam Division as goods that were previously available in the markets, are now becoming scarce.
