Securing Ngaoundere airport: compensation for expropriated land
Published: Monday, 26 August 2024 07:16
From 18 to 24 August 2024, the Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority (CCAA) paid the second phase of compensation to 249 expropriated residents of the ‘Aéroports’, ‘Mbidjoro’ and ‘Selbé Darang’ villages in the Ngaoundéré 2 Division.
A view of the runway side of the Ngaoundere secondary airport
This operation is part of the drive to secure Cameroon's airport facilities, which the CCAA began in 2018. During this process, a vast operation to clean up aeronautical easements was undertaken in collaboration with the administrative and municipal authorities of the town of Ngaoundere.
This extension aims to enable the airports to secure the plots of land on which their equipment, installations and infrastructure are located and to guarantee a good property portfolio. It will also enhance air safety by freeing up illegally occupied areas by neighbouring residents.
The Senior Divisional Officer (SDO) for Vina, Valéri Norbert KUELA, personally presided over the second phase of the compensation operation, in the presence of representatives of the CCAA, the administrations concerned and traditional authorities. To facilitate payments, he invited residents to bring their supporting documents.
Verification of the identity and registration of a victim before payment of compensation.
Per Prime Ministerial Decree No. 2022/4307/PM of 20 June 2022 on compensation for victims of loss of land and/or property rights, totalling 250,086,969 CFA francs, the first phase of compensation was paid in October 2023, at the end of which 139,519,577 F CFA francs had been paid to victims. The second phase of compensation, amounting to 110,567,392 F CFA francs, has now been paid to 90 persons.
The people involved in this operation all received their compensation in the form of cheques for amounts over 500,000 CFA francs, and in cash for smaller sums, subject to discharge or acknowledgement of receipt
It should be noted that the compensation was calculated in proportion to the value of the expropriated property (plots of land, crops, buildings), and based on a detailed evaluation grid in line with regulations in force.
Before this stage, Vina's SDO conducted field visits and awareness campaigns to inform residents of the risks involved in staying in the airport areas (noise pollution, risk of accidents, reduction in property value, etc.).
The SDO then invited dissatisfied persons to bring their requests to his attention, so that the findings and assessment commission could examine them.
This project to secure Ngaoundéré airport, which will improve air services and develop tourism in the Adamaoua region, will continue with the clearance of the airport domain and the physical securing of the aeronautical easement.
Trans: MKG-ARO/PRU
The traditional leaders of the affected villages, together with the evaluation committee
