Fight Against Clandestine Transport: Government Launches Campaign in Yaounde

The Minister of Communication, Issa Tchiroma Bakary in press conference in Yaounde on November 5, 2018 disclosed that “ in terms of statistics, it has been established that over the past eight years, 22,314 material and physical accidents have occurred on our roads, for a total of 8,669 deaths, many of which are victims of the “Clandos or Opeps.” He also said reliable statistics indicate that 40 to 60 per cent of the vehicles on our roads are involved in illegal transport activities.

The Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji and that of Transport, Jean Ernest Massena Ngalle Bibehe joined Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary to answer questions from journalists as they launched the campaign against clandestine road transport in Cameroon. The vehicles used for the clandestine transportation, the Minister said, “are without license plates, for the most part. Their drivers often work without a driver’s licence or other transport documents, without a transport licence or prior authorisation.” He further said that “they use of vehicles or motorcycles for personal use. They transport goods, and/or people, between cities without the required consignment note or waybill. In addition, these vehicles carry out their public transport activities outside the authorised area or route.” To curb the situation of permanent illegality, the Minister said, the Prime Minister has prescribed that legal and regulatory provisions provided for in this area may be used to ensure sound and detailed regulation of road transport in relation to the illegality scourge.

Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary announced that President Paul Biya has instructed the government to complete the legal and institutional framework of the road transport sub-sector, as well as the optimal monitoring of the operations in the sector. Concrete actions taken include permanent conduct of various awareness, information and control ...