North West Gets Own Version of Lom Pangar Project!

Biya’s Greater Realization/Vast Construction Site & Vision 2035 Agenda:

 

- Quarry Industry: 1^st Major Private Initiative After Ndawara Set-Up in Bamenda

Edison Fru Ndi

Within the last few months, President Paul Biya has been to Memve’ele in the South Region and Lom Pangar in the East Region. He went to lay the foundation stones for the construction of huge hydroelectricity power plants respectively. For the North West Region, President Biya has announced the construction of the Menchum falls. But without waiting for its to be actualized, some key North West sons who pulsate with President Biya’s vision of greater accomplishment have not been asleep. One of them, Edison Fru Ndi is setting up a giant quarry industry within the Mankon neighbourhood of Bamenda city. Already, it is seen as the first private initiative after the exploits of El Hadj Baba Ahmadou Danpullo in setting up the largest tea estate, nursery and factory at Ndawara, in Boyo division.

When Chronicle visited the Ntambeng quarry site at Mankon where Edison’s multi-million outfit is located, we witnessed a corollary: between the artisanal and would-be modern methods of extraction. However, the key focus was on the installation of giant equipment to actualize the giant outfit.

Bamenda’s Own Lom Pangar

It is a 3 hectare project; situated at Ntambeng, barely 3km from the Mankon fon’s palace. It is a project, which according to experts, worth 2 billion FCFA, upon completion. It is expected that like other giant industrial outfits, a senior member of government would do the inauguration, not necessarily President Paul Biya.

Edison’s giant quarry outfit would fully go operational in two (2) months time. Presently, Chronicle observed technicians installing the equipments, even with two Chinese experts involved. They were seen fully at work. Edison Fru Ndi, the initiator, has also been glued to ensure that his dream comes to fruition. This is the local, where Edison takes permanent residence on a daily basis.

At the quarry site, there is a dichotomy between the artisanal extraction and what would be industrialized in the offing. Chronicle observed how youths were busy ‘cracking’ the stones, which to the brain, would be shortlived.

It is expected that once the machines are installed, a dual processing would ensue. It is however unclear, who would do the inaugural, though Chronicle gathered that it would be done by a top government official.

The Quarry In Its True Ramifications

This is a project estimated to cost some 1.5 billion FCFA upon completion. Its construction is ongoing. When Chronicle visited the site last weekend, we observed how work had reached an advanced stage.

Already, a 400 megawatt generator is in place, with the entire area electrified. Technicians were installing the control tower, the jaw, and control crushers and even the vibrating screen and fidel. Also the putting in place of the weighing bridge has been ongoing.

Edison’s multi-billion quarry also has an office located at the quarry site (under construction). This is the avenue to assess all issues pertaining to the quarry expected to produce some 250 tonnes of concrete per hour and to employ at least 100 workers.

Multiplier Effects

For Edison to have venture into such a sector has not been by accident. Following Chronicle’s investigations, the young enterprising entrepreneur does not venture into an area where he would fail.

Already, Cameroonian youths are being employed to put in place the installations. It is expected that at least 100 people would be fully employed to man the operations upon completion.

The Ntambeng area would thus be developed. It is expected that the progenies of the over 100 employed would be resident. Invariably, government would be jolted to create health units, educational establishments and other opportunities. Even the Bamenda city council would become a major beneficiary given that each truck loading and leaving the quarry would have a fee to pay to the council. It is expected that should 1000 trucks leave the quarry in a month the Bamenda city council would make a monthly revenue of 2.000.000 FCFA, if each pays 2000 FCFA.

The quarry is expected to meet-up with the growing needs of roadwork contractors and individuals erecting their houses. The quarry, Chronicle gathered, would be expected to provide the required concrete, meant either for industrial construction of roads or houses; that there will be no doubt of large quantity supply of raw material to constructing companies, who in the most part have been frustrated by the inabilities of raw concrete materials.

Edison’s View of President Biya

The name Edison Fru Ndi only became public when he emerged as the President of CAPBIYA. The reason is that he originally functioned by the name Dreamland which is the label for his major businesses. But with CAPBIYA he had to be identified by his real names. At first many erroneously thought he was the relation of John Fru Ndi. Security forces actually went to work and discovered not only that the names ‘Fru’ and ‘Ndi’ actually featured in his documents, but that he and John Fru Ndi didn’t come from the Same division, let alone have family ties. The truth is that Edison has absolutely nothing in common ideologically, with John Fru Ndi, except for the fact that they both hail from the North West Region.

Ideologically, Edison identifies with President Biya and his Greater Achievements vision. He identifies with President Biya’s ideas of peace, national unity, democracy and the fight against corruption. Unlike other organizations which claim to uphold President Biya’s ideas but instead dupe fellow Cameroonians CAPBIYA is for the fight against poverty, assistance to the needy and underprivileged etc. Edison recently proved his attachment to Biya by contributing 3 million FCFA for the president’s re-election campaign. But that is not all he did; he was one of the organizers of the fundraising in the Bamenda congress hall which yielded 141 million FCFA. It was he who organized the decoration of the hall. Edison is also a friend to the press because he has no skeleton in his cupboard; reason why journalists have spoken very positively about Dreamland restaurant as it celebrates its 10th anniversary.

If the attitudes of Cameroonians are fast changing about Bamenda, it is thanks to the transformation of the North West both physically and psychologically. Edison championed demonstrations to welcome President Biya’s appointment of Philemon Yang as Prime Minister. Dreamland cabaret is the best thing that ever happened to Cameroon and is rated as Africa’s best by those who have navigated the continent.

Finally, Edison was an influential member of the ad hoc committee for the revitalization of North West Development. The committee did an elaborate survey of the region and came up with a blue print for the development of the region. North Westerners marveled when it was read at the Bamenda congress hall after the committee rounded up its work. North Westerners are extremely proud to have a genius like Edison.

Edison’s Vision for North West

Like a majority of fellow North Westerners, Edison feels the pangs of the Region’s underdevelopment. Nobody is more pained by reference to the Bamenda man as a buffoon or a blockhead. ‘je ne suis pas ton Bamenda’ is a common expression used by Francophones to express their disgust for North Westerners. The North West championed the return of multiparty politics in Cameroon but spoilt its case by stubbornly remaining in the opposition while the other parts of the country were softening up and forging ahead. When he decided to promote CAPBIYA it was to prove the truth that not all North Westerners were anti-government. That there are people in the North West ready to die for Paul Biya just as there are many Betis eager to die for SDF leader, Ni John Fru Ndi. He believes as every rational Cameroonian (Marceline Bis Etc) that grass is greenest where it is watered. Although he has the financial means to leave Cameroon and live abroad, he has decided to remain in his country and help in nation building. If Americans and the British abandoned their own country to live abroad who would have developed their respective countries? Edison is exemplary as a contractor, reason why fellow contractors unanimously elected him President of the North West Contractors’ Syndicate, NOWECOSY.

One of Edison’s most lofty ideas for the North West is the creation of a free trade zone. By the time he conceived this idea, the Bakassi crisis had not yet been resolved. But like any visionary he foresaw it. The idea of an economic free trade zone is inspired by what happens in Cotonou and Dubai. Edison thinks that once a free trade zone is created, development like the construction of the ring road will follow naturally. With such an innovation, the North West will have access to Nigeria which already is accessible to the extensive West African market comprising an estimated 250 million people. Nigeria is also linked to Western industrialized nations and Eastern countries like China and Japan.

He strongly believes that if the North West economic operator does business gainfully, all such radical ideas like secession preached by the SCNC would die naturally.