By Ngunyi Sonita Nwohtazie
Lebialem, Cameroon – After more than eight years of the Anglophone crisis, travel along the Dschang-Fontem road has been fraught with difficulties. However, ongoing construction in some parts of the division signals a potential turning point, encouraging displaced residents to consider returning home. Some motorbike and car drivers report that the road is now somewhat navigable.
With ongoing construction and the dry season making the route more accessible, local drivers report that the road is now about 50% manageable for daily transportation. Motorbike and car operators say they can now transport passengers multiple times a day, a significant improvement compared to past years.
“Because of the conditions of the road now, I can carry passengers from Fontem to Dschang or Dschang to Fontem like 4 times a day, depending on demand,” said a driver, expressing relief at the progress.
Challenges Persist Despite Construction
While improvements are evident, the road remains hazardous due to construction work. “The caterpillars have dug up sections of the road without installing drainage systems, making it extremely slippery when little rainfall drops. When the rains finally come next month, stones and mud will wash down, worsening conditions for us drivers,” a concerned driver explained.
Transport Costs and Driving Risks
These difficulties have financial implications for the local population, as transportation costs fluctuate with road conditions. Currently, passengers pay 5,000 FCFA per trip on a bike and 4500 FCFA in the car without luggage, as vehicles have resumed travel in the division. In earlier months, fares reached 10,000 FCFA due to the road’s poor state.
Driving from Fontem to Dschang remains a demanding task. “This road is not for beginners. It requires an experienced driver who understands its dangers, especially in the rainy season when mud, stones, and water make it nearly impassable,” another driver noted.
The reddish dust covering cars, motorbikes, and commuters is a visible sign of the road’s dry-season conditions, offering temporary relief before the rains return.
A Gradual Return to Normalcy
With relative calm returning to the division, reduced fares—now as low as 500 FCFA for local transport—offer a small but significant advantage to residents.
“As a bike rider travelling between Dschang and Fontem, it was nearly impossible to operate safely in the past. After 6 PM, the journey was unthinkable due to security concerns. Back then, passengers paid between 15,000 to 20,000 FCFA per trip without luggage,” a rider recounted.
With more development projects planned for the road, the hope is that Fontem’s population—now gradually returning—will find more reasons to go back home, reclaiming their lands, houses, and farms for a fresh start.
