Indemnity for the Second bridge over River Wouri : Over FCFA 1.29 Billion Paid so Far

Some 100 families have received compensation while others with problems have been suspended.

The construction of the second bridge over River Wouri left over 100 families homeless. However, they were handsomely compensated for demolishing their houses in order for the access road to the bridge be modernised. The houses were mainly demolished around Rond Point Deido and the Nouvelle Route stretch of road in Bonaberi.
During the first phase of compensation for bridge proper, some 60 families were compensated with the sum of FCFA 342.7 million. Later on, supplementary work still on the second bridge project removed some FCFA 949.4 million from the state’s coffers as indemnity for some 40 families. So far, the two phases of compensation amounted to FCFA 1.29 billion.
However, the process did not go on without misunderstandings. According to the Senior Divisional Officer of Wouri, Naseri Paul Bea, studies were carried out and houses evaluated but another commission sponsored by the World Bank gave different rates for houses earmarked for demolition. To the SDO, the commission instead of using the Cameroon standards, they used the World Bank standards which resulted in misunderstanding between the concerned population and the administration. “After taking time off and explaining the text, the population understood and the payment went on smoothly,” the SDO made known.
Though the two phases have been successfully paid, the SDO said the compensation to some have been suspended because of ownership squabble. A case in point is the Mohammad Bala and Nzenkeu Nya Josse case. As the story goes, Mohammad Bala that is supposed to receive FCFA 392 million as compensation for his house had decided to sell the house for FCFA 50,000 to pay his debt in the bank. The sales process went on for some time and house owner later said it be stopped because he has cleared his debt, unfortunately for him the sales continued and the case is presently at the level of the Supreme Court as to who should receive the huge sum of compensation. Another problem is a certain Ndonfack whose house was earmarked for demolition that was supposed to fetch him some FCFA 292 million. Unfortunately for him, only his veranda was chopped off and he received just FCFA 42 million but still claimed he has to be paid the entire sum.

Naseri Paul Bea :&nbs...