Yaounde-Soa Highway: Buses remain the best means

Soa is an important town in Yaounde and it has witnessed a good number of visitors grow since the establishment of the University of Yaounde II in 1993.

However, for some time now, getting easy access there has not always been easy for both residents and students who use smaller vehicles, the latest trend of transportation to get there.

According to the daily Le Jour on Tuesday, November 24, 2015, the amount to get to Soa currently oscillates between 250 and 300 FCFA.

"Soa is vastly populated now, so it's not just the students who use the bus to get there. Before, we were in business at all hours. But since there are disorders caused by Boko Haram, the service stops at midnight and starts at 6 am. I particularly stop working at 10 pm.

"I make four journeys per day with my car which has 22 seats. I carry a total of 176 people a day," said Rigobert Wachou, a driver, also adviser of the Association of drivers union in Soa. According to him, other drivers can make up to 6 rounds per day.

When the TIC Le Bus arrived, it fixed the transportation costs at 150 FCFA and shifted the attention from these cars for a while, but the passengers have quickly returned to their usual means of transport.

"The first snag with buses is that they are not always present when you need them. In addition, it is true that they are less costly compared to private cars, but when you find yourself in a bus that has no seats, the ride becomes very painful. This is without forgetting that a failure can occur at any time, "said Ines, a student from the University of Yaounde II Soa told the newspaper.

According to the newspaper, a few taxis are able to take the journey but it would cost the exponential amount of 3,000 or 5,000 FCFA depending on the driver.