Limbe: Does Biya Really Intend to Build Deep Sea port?
By Nchendzengang Tatah
The expectant population of the South West was again put in a state of uncertainty following the postponement of an initial signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to realise the long-awaited Limbe deep-sea port. The news of the change of plans was announced by a communique signed by the Minister of Transport, Ngalle Bibehe Jean Ernest Massena, on July 30, 2025.
This was hours before July 31, the earlier scheduled date. No reasons for the postponement were advanced in the release. However, many have described it as part of the recurrent phenomenon with the Biya regime as regards the realisation of substantial projects in the English-speaking regions, particularly in the South West.
Recalling that, a few weeks after Prime Minister and Head of Government, Joseph Dion Ngute, announced that the lone national refining company, SONARA, was not going to be relocated from Limbe – South West, the foundation stone of a refinery was laid in Kribi, South region. It is on this backdrop that many, especially on social media, have since Bibehe’s announcement, lambasted the government and called for the chief captain, Paul Biya, to have mercy on the people of the South West and execute the envisaged seaport project.
The South West, just like the North West, has since 2016 been embedded in a tense socio-political climate turned war for independence. Politicians in the South West have frequently cited Biya’s lack of warmth in furthering the divide and calls for a breakaway by neglecting the region’s developmental needs. These needs, Dion Ngute had on May 31, 2025, estimated to be mainly road infrastructure, the revamp of Cameroon’s largest agro-industrial company, CDC, and the national refining company, SONARA, while realising the much-talked-about Tiko International Airport and the Limbe deep seaport.
Dion Ngute had taken time to assure in his campaign speech that the Limbe port project was on course, though he did not stipulate any deadline. Ngute said the project was at its technical stage now, emphasising that the legal instrument had already been put up. That was alongside a decree signed in 2022 by President Biya creating and reorganising the Limbe deep seaport as an autonomous entity. Following that decree, the Douala Port Authority, on instructions, recognised the autonomy of the Limbe deep seaport, giving it a Director Delegate.
Dion Ngute said: “The third thing is to create the social organs of the port. Now, it is not by decree. The president cannot take a decree and appoint the Director General of the Limbe Deep Seaport – it’s illegal. First, all the different entities that make up the Board of Governors have to nominate some persons to represent them on the board. And I can assure you that that procedure is over.”
PM Ngute said the complete list of those nominated to manage the Limbe deep seaport was ready pending a text that the Minister of Transport is to prepare for the President of the Republic. He further explained that the President will then make appointments to the Board of Directors of the Limbe port.
In my hope, in the next few weeks, the Minister of Transport will preside over the first board meeting of the Limbe deep seaport. It is in that meeting that the chairman of the board will be elected by the Members. That is the procedure; I can assure you that this procedure is going on.-PM
The Limbe deep seaport is expected to cost CFA400 million. The project, which will significantly boost the economy and trade in the South West and Cameroon if realised, will provide jobs to over 20,000 people.
