Public Works Minister Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi submitted his 2026 roadmap to Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute on February 10, outlining plans to deliver about 475.9 kilometers of newly built roads during the year.
In the document, reviewed by Investir au Cameroun, the minister distinguishes between projects to be completed and those set to accelerate in execution.
Eastern access, northern corridors and Wouri bridge
Among the projects slated for completion are the eastern access road to Douala, the Maroua–Bogo–Pouss and Mora–Tchakamari corridors, the Mbalmayo–Sangmelima road and the Awae–Esse–Soa axis. The program also includes rehabilitation of the old Wouri bridge and the Kumbo–Misaje road, including the Nkambe bypass.
The minister also pledged delivery of six modular steel bridges.
Ngaoundéré–Paro, Yagoua, Foumban and urban bottlenecks
Projects to be accelerated include Ngaoundéré–Paro, Magada–Guidiguis–Yagoua and Foumban–Koupamatapit. Works on Edéa–Mouanko, Nkondjock–Bafang and Olounou–Oveng are also expected to gain momentum.
The roadmap further provides for the completion of works at Yaoundé’s northern entrance, Douala’s urban crossing and the paving of selected road sections in the South region, particularly in the Mvila and Dja-et-Lobo divisions.
New projects to launch in 2026
The most significant challenges are concentrated in the section dedicated to projects to be launched. In his correspondence to the Prime Minister, transmitted through the Secretary General of the Prime Minister’s Office, the minister lists 13 projects expected to start in 2026.
They include phase 2 of the Douala–Yaoundé highway, the 170-kilometer Ebolowa–Kribi road, the full rehabilitation of the 242-kilometer Ngaoundéré–Garoua corridor and the Tchakamari–Dabanga–Kousséri road.
The document also mentions completion of the Olama–Kribi road, rehabilitation of the Edéa–Kribi section and construction of a 2×2 expressway between Lolabé and Campo. Other roads listed include Batouri–Ngoura and Guidiba–Taparé.
Maintenance and budget constraints
Beyond new construction, the roadmap includes maintenance of 852 kilometers of paved roads and 5,222 kilometers of unpaved roads. The ministry also plans to continue “comfort maintenance” operations on about 754 kilometers of roads.
The document, a copy of which was sent to the Secretary General of the Presidency, contains a central warning.
“However, the major constraint limiting our performance remains cash flow tensions affecting payment of works executed by companies and supervision missions,” the minister wrote. The Ministry of Public Works’ budget for 2026 is set at CFA740 billion.
Ludovic Amara
