The seaside town of Tiko was in a celebratory mood on Friday, September 26, 2025, as Prime Minister and Head of Government, Chief Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute, arrived for a highly anticipated working visit to the Tiko Port. Residents turned out in large numbers, lining the streets and filling the port esplanade, eager to witness what many described as a historic moment for the town.
The Prime Minister’s mission was officially to review progress on key projects spearheaded by the government to revive Tiko Port, a once-vibrant maritime hub. The projects, launched under recommendations of the 2019 Major National Dialogue, include the rehabilitation of the three-kilometre road leading to the port, the extension of the Tiko Wharf, the expansion of the Idenau quayside terminal, the acquisition and installation of maritime signalling equipment across Tiko, Bota and Idenau ports, as well as the construction of a medical center at Bota.
Exxon Synergy and SOSECO engineers reported that the road rehabilitation works had already reached nearly half completion. Images of bulldozers clearing paths and crews installing drainage infrastructure were displayed, drawing applause from the crowd. The Prime Minister praised the progress, saying it was proof that government promises were no longer mere words but concrete action.
Speaking to a jubilant audience, Dion Ngute’s tone shifted from technical to political as he tied the rehabilitation of Tiko Port to President Paul Biya’s leadership. “I think the President of the Republic has decided to modernize Tiko,” he declared. “From childhood, Tiko has three things, its ports, its CDC plantations, and its hardworking people. Don’t you hear the money he gives for CDC? After 20 billion, he added over 30 billion, and then over 50 billion for CDC. Aren’t you glad?” His question drew cheers and chants as he continued: “If you want me to remain Prime Minister and continue with all this good work, what will you do? Will you vote for President Biya?” The message was unmistakable: progress in Tiko, he argued, depended on continuity at the top. The crowd roared its approval, giving the occasion the air of a campaign rally rather than just an inspection tour.
Earlier in the day, the General Manager of the Douala Port Authority underscored the national significance of the port projects, describing them as part of Cameroon’s broader logistics modernization plan. He said the government’s investment of eight billion CFA francs was designed not only to restore Tiko’s status as a functioning port but to boost job creation, attract foreign investment and reposition the town as a strategic economic hub.
Mayor HRH Peter Ikome Mesoso III was visibly moved by the Prime Minister’s visit, calling it a turning point for the people of Tiko who had grown weary of unfulfilled promises. “If you had reached Fako and gone back without me saying a word, you would have kept me with a pregnancy that I don’t know when I will give birth to,” he joked, drawing laughter. He stressed that Tiko’s natural maritime depth of 12 meters made it capable of hosting large ships, recalling a time when over 100 cars were once offloaded at the port. The mayor also pressed for the rehabilitation of the Tiko airport, which he said would complete the town’s transformation and boost its economic potential.
“This project is our cover,” he said earnestly, assuring the Prime Minister that Fako Division remains loyal to President Biya. “Our Godfather’s instructions are what guide every step of development here.”
By the end of the visit, it was clear that the day’s events were as much about politics as they were about infrastructure. The working session became a symbolic rallying cry for the ruling party, with Dion Ngute presenting the port rehabilitation as a testament to President Biya’s commitment to regional development.
For Tiko, the visit signalled the rebirth of a port that once anchored its economy. For the Prime Minister, it was an opportunity to reinforce the message that development and stability go hand in hand and that both, he argued, are best guaranteed under Biya’s leadership. Whether this passionate plea will translate into votes on October 12 remains the question, but one thing is certain: Tiko has been reminded that its future is now tied to a national agenda of modernization and continuity.
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