Over 44 Years On: Lagdo Dam Still Stands Strong, Firm

It is over 44 years since the construction of the Lagdo Reservoir ended in July 1982, having started in July 1977. The construction was effected by China International Water and Electric Corporation. Way back in the early 1970s, Oumarou Bakary faced a future defined by dusty streets and limited opportunity, a Xinhua news agency report recalls.

One Man’s Destiny

Living in Garoua, the capital of Cameroon’s North Region, the young man felt the weight of a sluggish economy and the relentless climate of the Sahel. Where life revolved around seasonal rains that often arrived too late or vanished too soon.

When news spread that Chinese engineers had set up camp 55 kilometers south in Lagdo to construct a dam across the Benue River, Bakary did not hesitate. He packed his bag and took a dusty ride toward a construction project that would ultimately redefine the northern territory of Cameroon.

Transformative Beginning

Upon arrival, he joined a massive workforce comprising 800 Chinese engineers and 2,500 Cameroonian workers. Initially assigned to the survey team mapping the dam's 308-meter span, Bakary's natural mechanical aptitude quickly caught the attention of his supervisors. As heavy construction got underway, he was transferred to the mechanical and electrical workshop, where he was introduced to the lathe.

Under the strict guidance of Chinese foremen, Bakary acquired technical skills and operational discipline unavailable in formal schools across the region at the time. "We worked night and day. The Chinese didn't rest. The Chinese don't mess around when it comes to work," Bakary recalled. "With the Chinese, you have to be perfect."

Life-changing Recommendation

When main construction wrapped up, most local laborers returned to their home villages. However, Bakary’s Chinese mentors formally recommended him to the National Electricity Company of Cameroon. In 1984, he was hired as one of the first permanent Cameroonian technicians tasked with operating the newly completed Lagdo power station. A career he maintained for 33 years until his retirement in 2017.

Today, at 69, Bakary is a grandfather of 12 residing in Lagdo. His sun-dried mud home hums with the steady sound of a refrigerator and the soft light of a television. "My house is lit by a steady bulb powered by the 72-megawatt plant I helped birth," he noted.

Bustling Town

Bakary’s personal path reflects the broader transformation of Lagdo. Prior to the completion of the 40-meter-high concrete dam in 1982, Lagdo was an isolated settlement. Today, it has developed into a bustling town supported by paved roads, educational institutions, a hospital, and electricity grid connection.