Tarring of the long awaiting 65 km of the Bangem-Nguti Road has been scheduled to start in 2023. According to the 2023 Project
Journal of Public Investment Projects for Kupe Muanenguba Division, South West Region, one billion FCFA has been allo-cated for work to start on the road in 2023.
The Ultimate learnt that as the work progresses, more fund-ing will be allocated for the com-pletion of the road.
Meanwhile, 400million FCFA has been allocated for alphasting (Tarring by Surface Dressing) of the 32.95 km stretch of Melong-Bangem Road. The Paramount Ruler of Bangem, HRH Chief Nnane Nnoko Emmanuel thanked the government for allocating money for the tarring of these roads which has been their cry. He said upon completion, the roads will spur the development of Bangem, and the sub division in general, facilitating the move-ment of people and goods in and out of the town.
HRM Chief Etuge Augustine Esong of Bambe, one of the vil-lages along the Bangem-Nguti road, disclosed that the road was lastly bulldozed in 2004, and received in 2005.
He cried that nineteen years after, no work has been done on the road which has become com-pletely impassable. “I cannot hide my joy with news that work will start on the road again. We have suffered a lot because of the bad state of the road. We are like captives in the forest. It is a new dawn to us.” The Chief jubilated.
Chief Etuge who is also President of Nguti Sub Divisional Chiefs Conference said Bambe and other surround-ing villages depend solely on cocoa for livelihood. He regret-ted that after all the labour, there’s no way to transport dried cocoa beans to the market. He said they are abandoned to the mercy of unscrupulous buyers who dictate prices to them.
He thanked the government through the Deputy Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic, Elung Paul Che, for coming to their rescue.
Hene Mbongwe, a teacher in Bangem disclosed that the tar-ring of the Melong-Bangem-Nguti road is of prime impor-tance to the population of Bangem.
He said the tarred roads will creat employment opportunities in Bangem because it is going to attract more investors to the town.
Mbongwe added that villages along the road endowed with timber and non-timber products will easily have access to mar-kets to sell their products, there-by increasing their income, and alleviating poverty.
Keddy Ekine, an inhabitant of Bangem was happy that the tarred roads will bring meaning-ful infrastructural development to the benefit of the population.
Akame Julius Ekane, a busi-nessman in Bangem said with the tarring of the roads, Bangem shall become a business city in the South West Region. He said
people shall easily go to Nigeria through Nguti to buy goods at cheaper rates. “This is indeed a dream come true.” He added.
Enter Motorbike Riders
Mbogwe Martin Epie alias Mebenga, President of Bangem Motorbike Riders Association expressed joy that with the tarred roads, their suffering and stress will subside. He said transport fare will automatically reduce.
However, Mbogwe pleaded with the government to send good contractors and engineers to work on these roads for sus-tainability.
Another bike rider, Ebwelle Rostant said they have started celebrating with news that money has been allocated for work to start on these roads.
He lamented that Bangem-Nguti road has been turned to a foot path, and only motor bikes can ride on the road.
He said villages along the road like Ndibsie, Enyandong, Elah, Baluck, Babubuck, Bambe and Ntale, are enclave because of the impassable state of the road.
Ebwelle said many pregnant women from these villages have put to birth on motorbikes, on their way to Bangem District Hospital. He added that even patients from these villages suf-fer from excruciating pains on motorbikes to and from the hos-pital.
Worst of all, the rider regret-ted that motorbikes are the only means used to transport corpses from these villages to the mortu-ary in Bangem, and to carry the corpses again to the villages for burial.
Ebwelle thanked the govern-ment for allocating funds for the roads. We said they are ready to contribute and collaborate to the realization of these projects.
Another motorbike rider, Ndumbe Ivo said the poor nature of Bangem-Nguti road has caused many riders to undergo operation of hernia and other illnesses. He said the lifes-pan of their motorbikes is just four months because the bad state of the road.
Ndumbe said every month, bike riders plying the road, choose a day to work on the road. The rider said this is how they have survived over the years.
