PM, Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute, Government/IsDB/PPRD Officials and others 

The Prime Minister, Head of Government, Chief Dr Joseph  Dion Ngute has launched the support project of the  Islamic Development Bank, IsDB’s over 21  billion FCFA  offer for the reconstruction and development of the Northwest and  Southwest regions.

The Launching ceremony took place at the Star Building on Monday, December 18. This was in the presence of some top state officials and other development partners.

Addressing the partners, the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute expressed his sincere gratitude to the Islamic Development Bank for buying the vision of the Head of State President Paul Biya and making its contribution to see that the crisis-hit regions are back on the right path.

He also highlighted the various strides made by the government accompanied by development partners who are bent on seeing President Paul Biya’s vision of making the Northwest and Southwest regions a better place for the population come to reality.

PM Addressing stakeholders

Speaking shortly after the event, the Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, MINEPAT, Alamine Ousmane Mey stressed the key aspects the contribution of the Islamic Development Bank will touch.

“The Contribution will go a long way to reconstruct infrastructures that have been damaged by the crisis so that the population will live better lives,” Minister Ousmane Mey  said “This falls along the same line as the President’s development plan that seeks to make Cameroon and emergent country by 2035.”

The Minister also said besides the infrastructures that the project seeks to bring about, it is also aimed at revamping the economy of these two regions.

“The contribution is not only to reconstruct the infrastructures that have been damaged by the crisis. It is also geared at reviving the economy of these two regions so that the living conditions of the population will be greatly improved” He added.

Another part of the plan, the Minister outlined, will aim at promoting living together amongst the population that has been affected by the crisis.

Minister Alamine Ousmane Mey talking to press

“We will use the money to promote living together amongst the population that is so dear to the head of state. So we want to develop Cameroon and bring all its components together”. He said.

Repartition Of The Contribution From The Islamic Development Bank

The Islamic Development Bank has partitioned its contribution as follows: Phase One FCFA 13.113 Billion which is 62 percent of the amount is dedicated to Phase One running for the 2023 financial year, FCFA  4.018 Billion for Phase Two is to be disbursed in 2024 and FCFA 4.018 Billion for phase III to be made available in 2025.

Infrastructures and projects realised by the presidential plan for the reconstruction of the Northwest and Southwest have been saluted across the board.

The Presidential Plan for the Reconstruction Plan of the Northwest and Southwest has been able to realise the following: 95 schools, 33 health facilities, 32 water points, nine bridges, eight community infrastructure; 300 small businesses reconstructed;10 community centres; 24 markets and 18.632 lost documents among others.

The reconstruction of the Northwest and Southwest Regions was one of the major recommendations made during the Major National Dialogue that took place in 2019.

Since then many development partners have been making contributions to see that it is realised. The Islamic Development Bank remains a major partner in the development of Cameroon. It has over the years made several contributions to ensure that the country moves from one development level to the other.

PM and others observe the National Anthem

The situation on the ground in the Northwest and Southwest Region remains under control despite a few attacks from armed men. The population lives in hope and believes that things will come back to normal soon.

According to the Islamic Dev’t Bank, the project is well anchored in the Cameroon Vision 2035 which focuses on prosperity and universal access to quality social services. The project is integrated with the Humanitarian-development-peace nexus. It is also aligned with strategic priorities, strategies, and programs in Cameroon, such as the National Development Strategy 2020-2030 and the UNDP Country Program Document for Cameroon 2022-2026.

The meeting had in attendance the Coordinator for the Presidential Plan for the Reconstruction and Development of the Northwest and Southwest Regions, PPRD-NW/SW, Motuba Tamajong Obase; the Field Representative of the Islamic Development Bank for Cameroon, Mohamadou Awal and many others.