Bakassi Peninsular: Investment Projects To Mark Sovereignty

Eight years have gone by with government investing social, economic and political interests in the oil and fish rich peninsula.

Last Sunday, 14 August, 2016, marked the eighth year following Cameroon’s take-over of the hitherto disputed Bakassi Peninsula. Cameroon, however, regained full citizen and tax control of the Peninsula last 9 October following an agreement that any inhabitant of the area must either declare for Nigeria and pay resident permit or declare for Cameroon and obtain the National Identity card.

Within the eight years of Bakassi-back-home, the Cameroonian government has been very much in the news for investing social, economic, and political interest in the oil and fish rich peninsula. The investments are reported to cost billions of FCFA to sustain local governments or Councils (six in number), provide potable water, erect schools (primary, secondary and high), install agricultural offices, establish Police stations and maintain the Defence Forces on the field.

The most recent investment was noted when PAMOL Plantations opened an area in Bakassi early 2016 to resettle farmers of oil palms and also repopulate the land. Before then, the Military Engineering Corps had invested some FCFA 640 million for 60 fishermen homes and CFA 300 Million for telecommunications pylons. An on-the-spot appraisal of the projects showed the pylons were 50 percent finished last May. Meanwhile the fishermen village of 60 homes was completed at New Beach and awaiting a final works report by the Military Engineering Corps as the executing agency. This would lead to an official reception by MINEPIA. The Military Engineering Corps led by Colonel Jackson Kamgain, MINEPIA led by Oumarou Ousmanou and MINATD headed by Ndian Senior Div...