Cameroon signed two financing agreements with the African Development Bank (AfDB) on March 19, 2025, for the reconstruction of the Ngaoundéré-Garoua road. Totaling 216 billion CFA francs, this financing aims to rehabilitate a strategic 242-km section linking Adamawa to the north of the country. The work, which will also include socioeconomic improvements, will begin in April 2025 as part of the fourth phase of the Transport Sector Support Program (PAST).
The Ngaoundéré-Garoua road is a vital axis of the corridor connecting the port city of Douala, Cameroon, to N’Djamena, the capital of Chad. Currently in very poor condition, this road complicates traffic and increases transport costs, impacting cross-border trade. In response to this situation, the Cameroonian government and the AfDB have entered into a financing agreement aimed at modernizing this strategic section. According to Alamine Ousmane Mey, Minister of Economy, this reconstruction is not limited to the rehabilitation of the roadway. “216 billion is the AfDB’s contribution not only to rebuilding the road, but also to initiating socioeconomic recovery operations in all the regions it crosses,” he emphasized.
Funding mainly provided by the AfDB
Funding for this project comes largely from a €318.24 million (or CFA francs 216 billion) loan from the AfDB, approved on September 13, 2024. Additional funding of €12.24 million (approximately CFA francs 8 billion) was also provided by the African Development Fund, a concessional window of the AfDB.
Work planned in five separate lots
The road rehabilitation is part of the fourth phase of the Transport Sector Support Program (PAST), which will run from January 2025 to December 2030. An international call for tenders was launched on December 11, 2024, to select the companies responsible for the work. Bidders had until January 30, 2025, to submit their bids, but the names of the selected companies have not yet been made public. The work will be divided into five lots, each with clearly defined technical specifications and completion deadlines. This division aims to ensure efficient and rapid completion of the work, with rigorous monitoring of each phase of the project.
Expected socio-economic impacts
Beyond improving traffic flow and reducing transportation costs, this reconstruction project aims to boost the local economy. Several economic inclusion initiatives are planned, including the creation of employment opportunities for young people and women in the areas crossed. The project also includes the construction of socioeconomic infrastructure such as markets, rest areas, and public facilities to make life easier for local residents. The goal is to strengthen the attractiveness of this region of Cameroon and increase trade with neighboring countries, particularly Chad.
Towards a transformation of the Cameroonian road network
The modernization of the Ngaoundéré-Garoua road is part of a broader effort to improve road infrastructure in Cameroon. The government is relying on international funding and sectoral programs to strengthen national and regional connectivity. With construction scheduled to begin in April 2025, authorities hope to see this road fully fulfill its strategic role in subregional trade, thus contributing to the economic development of Cameroon and its partners.
