Govt ignores SDF, endorses 20bn CFA shopping centre in Bamenda

Despite several disapprovals from Senior Councillors of the SDF party in the Bamenda City Council, government through CARPA, the Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development and the Prime Ministry has approved the construction of an ultra-modern shopping centres for Bamenda estimated to cost of FCFA 20 billion.

Alongside this government approval, there has been the appointment of the Project Commission Chairman in the person of Mr. Shey Nfor Musa incumbent CamCCUL President.

This was made public recently by the Government Delegate to the Bamenda City Council, Vincent Ndumu Nji, who said the shopping centre aimed at satisfying the growing population of Bamenda and hence the need to provide 5,000 shops, 1,000 stalls and a 1,500 capacity parking lot.

Given that the construction of these shopping centres shall be realised under the public/private partnership for a population of over 700,000, it is projected that each of the shopping centres would generate FCFA 1 billion annually during the operational period of 15 and 20 years.

Thereafter the Bemenda City Council would be able to generate FCFA 4 billion annually against the FCFA 400 million generated from all the four markets in the past. This huge income shall enable the City Council to carry out other projects within Bamenda with ease.

The Government Delegate wondered why Councilors of the SDF that sang promises of development to electorates during campaigns would try to stall proposals for such a giant project after being elected into power.

Painting a mental picture of how the ultra-modern shopping centres would look like, the Government Delegate, who is a certified engineer, said each shopping centre would be made up of a basement for parking lot, storage facilities and would have between four and six upper floors. Movement in the shopping centres would incorporate easy passages for the physically challenged. The structure will also have elevators and other modern facilities.

Eden was also made to understand that the project commission led by Shey Nfor Musa has already started receiving applications from investors.

This initiative, which pundits say is laudable, is coming at a time when the Bamenda main market has clocked 50 years, Nkwen market 40 years and the food market 20 years with outdated infrastructure which is incapable of accommodating the growing population of the city.

It should be noted that the appointment of the President of CamCCUL, Shey Nfor Musa, to head this commission is not by chance given that he on behalf of Credit Unions had expressed the willingness to make available funding for giant projects realisation in the city including roads.

Most investors today are making use of the huge financial resources in credit unions. CamCCUL network as at now has over FCFA 80 billion in shares/savings which can be made use of by any honest investor.