The Bamenda City Council has assured landlords and property owners that its ongoing urban renewal programme is not intended to take over private property but to work with population to transform the city into a modern and attractive municipality.
The assurance was given by the City Mayor of the Bamenda City Council, Achombong Tambeng Paul, during a consultative meeting with owners of old and dilapidated buildings held on Wednesday, July 22, at the Council Hall in Mulang.
The meeting brought together landlords, property owners and city officials to discuss the future of aging buildings in Bamenda's city centre following the construction of new roads under the French Debt Relief Fund (C2D) urban development project.
Addressing landlords, City Mayor Achombong said the council's objective is to improve the value of land and create a more organised city rather than deprive anyone of their property.
"We have not called you here because we want to seize your land. We have not called you here because we want to destroy your source of revenue. We have not called you here because we want to humiliate you," the mayor said.
He explained that the council sees property owners as partners in the city's development and called on them to embrace a common vision of building a cleaner, more organised and economically vibrant Bamenda.
"We have called you here as partners who will share the same vision of a beautiful town and for a wonderful possibility of peaceful cohabitation between the citizens and those managing the affairs of the city," he added.
The mayor said the completion of new roads presents an opportunity for property owners to improve the appearance and commercial value of their buildings.
"The road is now here. The next question is, what next? We must add value to our land, our municipality and our country," he said, urging owners of old structures to consider redeveloping their properties.
Beyond the condition of buildings, Mayor Achombong also highlighted challenges related to urban planning. He noted that many streets in Bamenda remain unnamed while numerous houses lack identification numbers, making navigation and service delivery difficult.
To broaden consultations, the mayor announced that another meeting will be held in the coming days. The next session will include more landlords, quarter heads and representatives of financial institutions to explore possible partnerships that could help property owners redevelop their buildings through financing arrangements.
He encouraged them to freely share their ideas so that the council and the landlords could reach a common understanding on the way forward.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for landlords to express their views on the proposed urban renewal programme.
Several property owners insisted that they would not sell land inherited from their parents, stressing that their properties were part of their family heritage and therefore not available for sale.
Others, however, welcomed the council's initiative and expressed readiness to work with the municipality to improve their buildings, provided their ownership rights were respected and suitable financing options were available.
The discussions come as Bamenda witnesses renewed efforts to modernise its urban landscape following the ongoing construction of major infrastructure projects. City authorities believe that redeveloping aging structures alongside the new road network will improve the city's appearance, stimulate economic activities and increase the value of properties in the regional capital.
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