Business

17, June 2016

Cameroon: Prices of basic commodities soar, CPDM government won’t talk!!! ⁰

Getting eight unripe bananas at 100 FCFA or a 15-litre measure of white maize at 3,500 FCFA is no longer possible in Douala today. Talk less of buying a 10-litre container of charcoal (big lumps) at 1,000 FCFA. Families that hitherto depended on essential protein like beans or eggs are now unable to afford them.

Traders like Marguerite Kemba and Donatus T. attribute the hikes to the age-old problem of inaccessibility to production zones, especially as downpours become regular. According to Hans Nfor, it is a season of scarcity for maize and beans because farmers are still waiting for new harvest. Meanwhile, old stocks are gradually being depleted. The obvious impact, they say, is that it has not only created the scarcity of some foodstuff in Douala markets, but also price hikes as many scramble for the few quantities available.

Claudette Ndi, a buyer, said the main sources of protein for her family used to be eggs and beans, but with the scare of Bird Flu in the country, she is unable to afford them. “I can’t go for alternatives like fresh beef because it is even more expensive for a family of eight,” she disclosed. Jacques K., a breadwinner, added that the price hikes have provoked misunderstanding among couples: “Without a corresponding rise in income, I am uncertain of the future.”

Now, only four bananas sell for 100 FCFA and seven for 200 FCFA, for the bigger ones in Marché Buea. Nonetheless, a 15-litre of white maize now costs 4,000 FCFA. Only smart bidders are able to match traders to purchase at 3,900 FCFA. Only last April in Marché des Pommes, the same quantity cost 3,500 FCFA. As for yellow maize, the price of the same quantity has soared to 4,500 FCFA, from 3,800 FCFA. Charcoal, which is preferred by most low-income families for fuel, has climbed to 1,500 FCFA from 1,000 per 10-litre container.

Even so, only the most daring buyer undertakes the telling experience of squeezing through the muddy, narrow aisles of the Charcoal Market in order to find dry charcoal. The prices of beans (red, white and MEDINO) are astronomical, having gone from 10,000 FCFA and 11,000 FCFA to 12,000 FCFA and 13,000 FCFA for 15-litre containers. Meanwhile, a cup of beans now costs 150 FCFA, compared to 125 FCFA two months ago.

Cameroon Tribune

16, June 2016

President Ali Bongo orders military vehicles, mobile medical shelters and positioning systems from France ⁰

Gabon has ordered unmanned ground vehicles, mobile medical shelters, positioning systems and unmanned aerial vehicles from France’s Nexter. The contracts were announced by Nexter at the Eurosatory show in Paris on Tuesday. The deals involve the Findsat positioning system, Nerva LG unmanned ground vehicles, with a variety of mission kits, NX-110 unmanned aerial vehicles from Nexter partner Novadem and medical shelters from Euro-Shelter, a Nexter subsidiary. The Findsat system is a space-based blue force tracker that is able to identify and locate friendly personnel. The system has been tested by France as part of its Licorne operation in the Ivory Coast.

The Nexter Robotics Nerva LG wheeled unmanned ground vehicles are designed for reconnaissance and Improvised Explosive Device (IED) route clearance. The vehicle is designed to be an extension of the vehicle that carries it. The throwable and waterproof vehicle can be controlled from a computer, tablet or smartphone and can be operated semi-autonomously by following waypoints and automatically brought back home. Payloads can include an infrared camera, day camera etc.

Novadem’s NX-110 is a small quadcopter unmanned aerial vehicle powered by electric motors. Its rotor blades and rotor hub arms fold up so it can be transported in a single carry case. It carries a single gyrostabilised camera, which can be a CCD day camera or infrared camera. The interchangeable payload bay can also carry gas, radiometer or spectrometers and other sensors.

Gabon has previously ordered other military hardware from Nexter, and in November 2014 ordered four 15A naval mounts and a 20 mm Narwhal remote controlled gun turret from Nexter Systems to equip its Raidco RPB20 patrol boats and 58 metre OPV50 offshore patrol vessel bought from Piriou. In October 2014 Gabon also ordered the refurbished ex-French Navy P400 patrol vessel Tapageuse.

The Narwhal turret features an electro-optical sighting system and moving target auto-tracker. The turret for Gabon features the 20 x 102 mm M621 cannon, which has a firing rate of 750 rounds per minute. Weight of the turret with 200 rounds of ammunition is 390 kg. The Narwhal turret has been selected by the French Navy for its FREMM frigates.

The 15A light naval gun mount is also fitted with the M621 cannon. It is manually aimed and operated and weights 200 kg, with 160 rounds of ammunition. On 29 October 2014 Gabon also ordered 12 Aravis armoured vehicles to equip its battalion committed in the Central African Republic as part of the UN’s MINUSCA mission there. These vehicles were fitted with the ARX20 turret, the PG-Guard anti-RPG protection system and Nerva LG mini scout robots. The first were handed over to Gabon in June 2015.

Defenceweb

16, June 2016

Bodies of three dozen refugees found in Niger Sahara Desert ⁰

The bodies of nearly three dozen refugees, including women and children, have been found in Niger’s Sahara Desert, where they were apparently abandoned by smugglers en route to neighboring Algeria and eventually Europe. “Thirty four people, including five men, nine women and 20 children, died trying to cross the desert,” Niger’s Interior Minister Mohamed Bazoum said in a statement on Wednesday.

He said two of the victims have been identified as Nigerians but the nationalities of the others were not immediately clear. Bazoum said the bodies were found near the northern desert town of Assamaka, at a border post between Niger and Algeria. The refugees, he said, had died between June 6 and 12. Thirst was described in the statement as a probable cause. Temperatures currently stand at 42 degrees in the region.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has estimated that 120,000 people crossed through the Niger desert last year and 60,000 between February and April this year. The IOM also recorded 37 refugee deaths in the desert in 2015. Libya used to play host to the majority of the refugees in Sub-Saharan Africa on their way to Europe, but since the North African country plunged into political chaos in 2011, Algeria has become the new route.

Thousands of illegal migrants and refugees have recently arrived in Algeria on their way to Europe, mostly from neighboring Mali and Niger. More than 7,000 Nigerien migrants, mostly women and children, were turned back from Algeria to their home country in 2015 as part of an agreement between the two countries’ governments. Meanwhile, Europe has recently curbed the number of illegal arrivals from Africa, after a deal with Ankara in March reduced the number of people trying to cross from Turkey.

Presstv

16, June 2016

Yaounde: Credit Unions go on the offensive to attract customers ⁰

Financial experts say the wrongdoings of Micro Finance Institutions in Cameroon of late with shutdown and swindled live savings of customers has prompted the rush by many Cameroonians to embrace the services of credit unions. A credit union is category one micro finance institution; Its characteristics are different in terms of ownership, experts say. A credit union is owned by members while a group of shareholders owns bigger microfinance institution explains Albert Ndikwa, a Chief Accountant.

The Melen-Biyem Assi neighbourhood is a typical example of the sprouting of credit union with roots from the North West Region. “I once counted and had over 20 of such banking institutions from between Total Melen and Carrefour Biyem-Assi,” Albert Ndikwa said. The Manchok Credit Union, the Bamenda Police Credit Union, the Mve Credit Union, the Kumbo Credit Union, Santa Credit Union, Awing Credit Union, Bambili, Bambui and Bessi-Awum credit union are just few of the many. Proximity to clientele, tribal affiliation and other advantages are just few of the driving factors of the structures that reportedly offers enticing products.

Opening an account at the Bessi-Awum Credit Union Limited in the Biyem-Assi requires a sum total of FCFA 32,000 of which shares count for FCFA 25,000, building fees for FCFA 5000, registration fees of FCFA 1,500 and pass book at FCFA 500, Abigail Efang revealed. The union’s interest rates stand at 1.85 and drops as the loan reduces. Other credit unions have more enticing services like daily collectors charged with collecting savings and deposits from members with busy work schedules free of charge.

Some credit union managers explain that customers unable to open accounts but save on daily or weekly basis are charged FCFA 1,000 monthly for the services of daily collectors meanwhile duly registered members only require to locate their addresses for their savings to be collected and saved free of charge. Risks are covered by the office after due investigation, it was revealed.

Albert Ndikwa revealed that buying a share or belonging to the credit union automatically makes you a member/shareholder with end of year dividends, making it comfortable for many to belong to such financial institutions. The micro finance (small bank) have banking systems of operation meanwhile credit unions have less traditional banking stress. Just the fact that credit unions are governed by a Board of Directors voted by the General Assembly with micro finance bodies controlled entirely by Board of Directors who are the shareholders, has given the more people the encouragement to belong to the former, as many fear collapse and the eventual sinking of their savings.

Cameroon Tribune

16, June 2016

Cameroon: Pig farmers improving hygienic conditions ⁰

Pig farmers and butchers have been cleaning up their environment and workplaces to give a better image to their businesses. Disinfecting slaughtering corners, pig styles and slabs regularly with caustic soda, inspecting carcasses before sale and selling in clean environment is a must for avoiding any contamination. According to pig butchers and farmers in the Wouri Division, hygiene and sanitation are passwords for the pig sector that is increasingly attracting customers.

In times past, it was common to see makeshift pork slabs along the street, selling to naive customers who cared less about the hygienic conditions of the pork. Today, veterinary doctors do not only confiscate such carcasses that are unfit for human consumption, but destroy them on the spot. In all the subdivisions in Wouri, there exists legal slaughter corners where a veterinary team inspects the carcasses before they are declared fit for consumption.

In the Douala II municipality where about 120 pigs are slaughtered daily, animal health staff ensure hygiene in the lone slaughter corner and that the animals are in good health. Pork dealers now practice thorough hygiene and sanitation following the crisis in the poultry sector that killed thousands of table birds in the Centre Region. Roger Fogang, the Pig Butchers’ President in the Douala II Council Area, restated the importance of hygiene: “We carry out regular and compulsory cleaning of the market once a week. I also make sure that all pig butchers keep their surroundings and slabs clean and put on white jackets to give dignity to the profession,” Roger Fogang explained.

On the other hand, veterinary officers ensure that butchers acquire medical certificates,” he explained. At a recent meeting with over 400 pig dealers in Wouri, the Divisional Delegate for Livestock, Dr Guy Mimbang, cautioned them to avert epidemic outbreaks by being ready to compete with modern butchers in supermarkets.

Cameroon Tribune

15, June 2016

Yaounde: Ericsson’s cream of experts say 5G will be available by 2020 ⁰

Experts from Ericsson announced on Tuesday in Yaoundé, the nation’s capital that 5G will be available by 2020. Analyzing the telecommunications environment in Sub-Saharan Africa, Ericsson’s Special Representative for Cameroon and a cream of other senior technicians of the company revealed to a group of pressmen and women the latest information on trends and innovations in the mobile telecom market.

The experts hinted that on the recommendations of the last Mobile World Congress in Barcelona (February 2016), 5G should be ready for mass deployment by 2020. Cameroon Intelligence Report learned that the number of subscriptions associated with Smartphones is on a steady rise in Cameroon.

CIR

14, June 2016

Kribi port to go operational before 2017 ⁰

The port of Kribi will go operational before 2017 Cameroon Intelligence Report has learned from government sources in Yaounde. The Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development (MINEPAT), Louis Paul Motaze reportedly visited the site last Friday in his capacity as Chairman of the Steering and Monitoring Committee of the proposed implementation of the industrial port complex of Kribi. Louis Paul Motaze was accompanied by the Belgian partners and some members of government.

We understand that the first phase has cost roughly 245 billion FCFA and it will generate 2,000 direct jobs and 2000 indirect jobs. All installations and structures including storage areas, service buildings, signaling beacons all meet the standards set by the International Association of Lighthouse Authorities (IALA). The multipurpose terminal has a capacity of 1.2 million tonnes of goods per year and a container terminal quay with a length of 350 meters and a 14 hectare storage area.

CIR

10, June 2016

Chad sends 2000 troops to Niger ⁰

Chad has sent some 2,000 troops to neighboring Niger to help the fight against Boko Haram following last week’s terrorist attacks by the Takfiri militants in the Nigerien town of Bosso. The “heavily armed” soldiers will “search everywhere for Boko Haram,” a military source said Wednesday. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Tuesday that some 50,000 people have fled the town of Bosso in Niger’s troubled Diffa region near the Nigerian border following deadly attacks by Boko Haram terrorists.

Boko Haram militants first took the town of Bosso on Friday in an attack, during which 26 soldiers, including two from Nigeria, were killed. A total of 55 militants from the Nigeria-based militant group were also killed during the fierce fighting. The terrorists reportedly torched military barracks, police facilities and looted shops during the terror campaign in the town. The ambush and looting came as Niger’s army was preparing to attack Boko Haram in the Lake Chad region, which straddles Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger. Nigerien troops later retook Bosso on Saturday, but the militants once again took over the town on Sunday night.

The mayor of Bosso, Mamadou Bako, and a military source confirmed the takeover on Monday, but the Nigerien government denied it. Regional countries have created a joint military force that plays a key role in helping Nigeria fight the terrorist group. Back in February, the four littoral nations of Lake Chad launched a military campaign, together with a contingent from Benin, to confront the threat from Boko Haram militants in the region.

The Boko Haram terrorist group, which has pledged allegiance to the Daesh Takfiri militant group, has killed thousands of people, mostly civilians, since it launched its terrorist activities in Nigeria in 2009. The Takfiri militant group has intensified its campaign of terror since President Muhammadu Buhari came to power in the African country in May 2015.

Presstv

10, June 2016

Living the Nnoko Mbele Dream: Kumba Council gains 40 per cent investment in 2015 ⁰

Grand Councilors of the Kumba City Council in Meme Division of the South West Region recently adopted the 2015 Administrative and Management Accounts during the First Ordinary Council session. The Government Delegate to the Kumba City Council, Victor Ngoh Nkelle, noted that 1.5 Billion FCFA was budgeted in 2015, with additional investment of 212 Million FCFA from MINEPAT, giving a total of 1,712,000,000 FCFA. He disclosed that 1,082,525,076 FCFA was collected, higher than in 2014; while investment stood at 40 per cent.

He said during the year under review, the City Council was able to dredge portions of River Manbungise in 2015. Victor Ngoh Nkelle disclosed that because of the accountable and efficient execution of the project in 2015, Kumba City Council considered the project for continuation in 2016 by extending it for another 8 months to clean 580 meters of the same river at 210,582,000 FCFA. The City Council, he said, equally drained toilets within the Kumba Main Market and parks, acquired 105 metallic chairs for the City Council Hall, 35 computer tables for the library, 300 plastic chairs and tables still awaited to be supplied.

The Government Delegate to the Kumba City Council noted that work at Buea Road Motor Park stands at 60 per cent, with the ongoing construction of 26 permanent roadside stores adjacent the Premier Pharmacy, in addition to the rehabilitation of other roads in the city. He said internal revenue could be more than what was realized if Sub-divisional Councils stopped the collection of building permit levies and advertisement taxes.

The Senior Divisional Officer for Meme, Koulbout Aman David, lauded the Government Delegate and his team for a job well done, thanks to excellent team work between the Government Delegate, Grand Councilors, the Secretary General and the Treasurer. He called on the Treasurer not to relent his efforts in revenue collection. The SDO also urged the Government Delegate to speed up work at the Mambanda and Buea Road Motor Parks to help generate more revenue for the City Council.

Cameroon Tribune

10, June 2016

Cameroon sets deadline for unidentified mobile phone subscribers ⁰

Unidentified subscribers to the Cameroon Telecommunications, Camtel, MTN Cameroon, Orange Cameroun and Nexttel have for over a month been again receiving messages inviting them to rush to sales points to update their files and or correct bad identification. The response has been prompt. The operation has been launched separately by mobile telephone operators under the auspices of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications with the Telecommunications Regulatory Board playing watchdog role.

Some operators like MTN Cameroon have opted for proximity identification, given the stakes of the exercise. The company has deployed teams to Yaounde neighborhoods like Ngoa-Ekelle, Mvan, Ngoussou, Bastos, and Soa etc to reach maximum clients. It is motivating subscribers with free airtime to scale up the number of identified clients. Other operators like Orange Cameroun have remained true to themselves, sensitizing clients on the reasons for having their identities in the database. The company’s sales points and shops have since witnessed unprecedented crowds, with subscribers committing to the exercise.

Information garnered from the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunication reveals that previous operations did not meet the expectations of the Head of Government wholly. Government is therefore out for serious business. Security stakes are high and no government will fold arms to jeopardize the livelihoods of its citizens. Today June 10, 2016, is deadline for identification. Mobile phone operators have warned feet-dragging subscribers that their lines will be suspended if not found in the database.

The operation comes after that which was carried out late last year. It was prompted by the Prime Ministerial decree of September 3, 2015 spelling out the conditions for identifying subscribers. Subscribers, according to the decree, are expected to submit original copies of their National Identity Cards, residence permits for foreigners, complete address and sketch of the home’s location as well as the international identity of the equipment terminal (IMEI) for identification.

Unlike in the past when subscribers upgraded profiles with photocopies of ID cards, the current operation obliges subscribers to present originals of their particulars for complete identification. Mireille Flore Dongmo, one of the agents of MTN Cameroon, told Cameroon Tribune at CETIC Ngoa-Ekelle, Yaounde yesterday June 9, 2016, that subscribers are yet to draw a line between registration and identification. The agents are using innovative technology to scan ID cards and have them signed by subscribers to complete the identification procedure.

Cameroon Tribune