The Senior Divisional Officer (SDO) for Wouri, Paul Naseri Bea, has announced the creation of a Special Brigade to clamp down on clandestine transporters in Douala.

Even though officials of transporters syndicates have lauded the SDO’s move, many are wondering whether the Special Brigades would also go after uniform officers, who have practically taken over the transport sector.

The leaders of the transporters’ syndicates said clandestine transportation has strived in Douala over the years because top military officers are involved in the business.

Members of the syndicates further asserted that, even when drivers of clandestine vehicles plying the Douala – Limbe- Buea and Mbanga axis are chased off from loading at ‘Rond Point” Deido, the uniform officers are unperturbed.

Addressing DOs, Mayors, law enforcement units, leaders of transporters syndicates at a meeting on December 11, the SDO said the Special Brigades were set up following instructions from different Ministers.

He stated that the Prime Minister, Philemon Yang, on November 10, 2015, signed a Prime Ministerial decree creating Special Brigades to fight clandestine transportation.

As a follow-up to the Prime Ministerial decree, he went on, the Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, René Emmanuel Sadi, and the Minister of Transport, Edgard Alain Mebe Ngo’o, jointly signed another arête, instructing SDOs and DOs to create Special Brigades in their different administrative units.

He said it was in that light that he convened the meeting with the different parties to constitute the Special Brigade.

Determined To Succeed

Naseri insisted that even though the fights against clandestine transportation in Douala in the past were unsuccessful, the administration and the Special Brigades are determined to succeed this time around.

He said the Special Brigades have more powers to crack down on all defaulters than the past forces.

Transporters’ syndicates have also pledged to work in synergy with the Special Brigade to win the war against illegal transportation.

Airport Officials Promoting Clandestine Transportation

The SDO faulted hotel owners and some airport officials for promoting this illegal means of transportation.

According to him, some big hotels station their vehicles in some strategic parts of town and even use them to transport people for money.

Such vehicles, he went on, generally operate on hire basis and most people prefer to hire these private vehicles at the peril of taxi drivers who pay taxes to the State.

Naseri Bea said most of such vehicles are a security risk because most of the drivers operate even without valid documents and may land people into trouble with the forces of law and order.

He urged the population to shun such practices.