For Better Projects Monitoring, PNDP Hands over Motor Bikes to Councils

Benjamin Ngah in Bamenda

       The National Community Driven Development Program known in it French acronyms as PNDP has once more  after equipping councils around the North West Region of recent with office paraphernalia such as computers, photocopiers and it usual help to councils in their development strides, come to the aid of councils again. 

        In a brief occasion at the governor’s office and presided at by the governor of the North West Region, Adolph Lele L’Afrique, nine new brand motor bikes with all their accessories were handed over to mayors of nine council areas of the region. The handing over of the nine bikes to councils like Nkambe, Fura awa, Njinikom, Nwa, Balikumbat, Santa, Batibo etc it should be recalled were to councils that had not yet received. Others had theirs sometimes ago meaning that almost all the council area of the region except the city councils have abike.

       Speaking to the press after handing over the bikes, the governor of the region North West Region appreciated the ministry of The Economy, Planning and Regional Development (MINPAT) through PNDP and the international donors for the wonderful offer which according to him, “…was going to solve many problems faced especially by Council Development Officers-CDOs in the discharge of their duties.” He however cautioned them that rigorous check mechanism has been put in place through the SDOs and DOs to deter the misuse of the bikes by the users. He warned that the laws of the republic would not spare anyone who decides to use the bike for his or her on personal affair.

     The Regional Delegate of MINPAT, Njeba Kenneth said the bikes bought with funds from the World Bank are the fruit of international cooperation. According to him, the bikes are essentially meant to help the Council Development Officers (CDOs) and the Council finance officers in the collection of revenue and the control of council projects especially in council areas where movement is difficult because of poor roads and terrain. While waiting for the roads to be made passable, he said, “the use of the bike remains the only option in most place and these bike have come to solve that problem.”

  Reactions

Mayor Ngomfe David, Nwa Council

      You know my place does not even need a vehicle because we do not have roads. We need but bikes to meander through the tracks. Through this bike, we would be able to get to all the villages to monitor development taking place in those areas. We would be able to places with just footpaths like Adere, Nchaa and so on. These are places where vehicles do not go. I would like to thank PNDP for this kind gesture and to promise them that good use would be made of the bikes.

Mayor Sanangbidob Phanuel Zan-Diri, Fura awa

     The problem of a Furu Awa man is that of movement. We do not have roads. This bike has therefore come to solve the problem of movement especially to the CDO who has to be on the field and to send report to the hierarchy especially PNDP who is our major partner in development. The bikes would be used uniquely for service and not for commercial purposes. But there is one peculiar think I would like to put across. Having these bikes without roads would not solve much problem. We need roads in Fura Awa. I wish need time the governor would be in Fura Awah to present but roads to the population and not us receiving a bike. The problem in Fura Awa is just the roads.

Mayor Chah Bam Terence, Njinikom

     I would like to appreciate PNDP for this philanthropic gesture. This bike has come to ease movement especially for the council officers within Njinkom. The topographic nature of Njinikom makes it impossible for vehicles to get to certain areas because there are no roads. The bike would therefore be able to get to this area and speed up development in those areas. At first it was practically impossible to supervise work being carried out but now I know that is of the past because of this bike. From the bottom of my heart I would like to thank PNDP and to assure them that all the work they are carrying out here in Njinikom would be well monitored and carried out.

Mayor Ngabir Paul, Nkambe

     I think the activities of CDO are mainly on the field. He has to carry out studies with technicians in the field, monitor projects being carried out and to gather information about what affects the population in the community. This entails a lot of movement and so this bike would go a long way to ease their movement for effective work. This bike is a very useful tool for the council and I wish to thank PNDP very much for the gesture.