The first 120 houses will be ready for reception by the end of June 2012.

Improving the living conditions of Cameroonians is a priority to government. In this light, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Jean Claude Mbwentchou, paid a visit to the low-cost housing construction site in Olembe on the outskirts of Yaounde and the renovation on urban roads in the city yesterday May 17.

The purpose of the visit was to evaluate the work done so far in the improvement of urban roads and housing project. At the building site in Olembe, even though it was public holiday, work was going on smoothly. From a distance, one could easily determine the state of the work done. Minister Jean Claude Mbwentchou was taken to a prototype apartment to see what the housing estate will be like upon completion. After a thorough inspection of the site, Minister Jean Claude Mbwentchou visited building plots in the Golf neighbourhood and sites to be developed such as Ntaba, Djongolo valley and the former motor park opposite the Warda Sports Palace.

Speaking briefly to the press after the visit, Jean Claude Mbwentchou expressed satisfaction with the work done at the Olembe construction site. However, he said the satisfaction was not total. Out of six buildings that were expected to be completed for the first phase of the project, three are already near completion. Two of them, however, are not yet up to standards.

According to the Minister, the Real Estate Company (SIC) has already started the process of cancelling of the contracts of the two companies concerned. Sources at SIC said the first phase which involves the construction of 120 housing units will be completed and handed over at the end next month while the other 380 houses constructed by local companies for the second phase will be completed by end of next September. In some sites where the land is sloppy, work will only begin as from early next month, the source said. The zone for the construction another housing estate by a Chinese firm has already been cleared and is ready for construction.

Jean Claude Mbwentchou also visited building plots in the Golf neighbourhood and sites that have to be developed such as Ntaba, Djongolo valley and the site at the former motor park opposite the Warda Sports Palace. Earlier on Wednesday May 16, Minister Jean Claude Mbwentchou visited renovation work on urban roads as well as the River Mfoundi Canal in Yaounde. He was accompanied by the Ministers of Energy and Water Resources, State Property Land Tenure and Surveys, Public Contracts and partners.