The town of Tiko was thrown into celebration on Friday, 26 September 2025, as the Prime Minister and Head of Government, Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute, arrived at Tiko Port for a high-profile working visit.
The transitional administration of the Port Authority of Limbe rolled out the red carpet for the PM, who arrived to review progress on five key government projects linked to port rehabilitation and modernisation.
But beyond the technical presentations and project outlines, Dion Ngute’s visit bore a deeply political undertone. With the presidential election looming, the Prime Minister used the stage to remind the people of Tiko and the broader Fako Division of the Head of State’s investments, urging them to rally behind President Paul Biya at the polls.
At the heart of the working visit was a review of five major projects earmarked for execution by the government through the Port Authority of Limbe. These included: rehabilitation of the three-kilometre access road leading to Tiko Port; the rehabilitation and extension of the Tiko wharf; expansion of the Idenau quayside terminal; acquisition and installation of maritime signalling equipment for the ports of Bota, Idenau, and Tiko; and the construction of a medical centre at Bota and purchase of specialised working equipment.
Presentations revealed that the access road rehabilitation, executed by Exxon Synergy and SOSECO, had already reached 46.31% completion. Pictures displayed soil testing, bulldozer works, and drainage placement.
Officials noted that these projects stem from recommendations adopted during the 2019 Major National Dialogue, underscoring the government’s commitment to decentralisation and regional development.
PM Dion Ngute: “Vote Biya, Keep Progress Alive”
Prime Minister Dion Ngute addressed the jubilant crowd, delivering what many interpreted as both a progress report and a campaign message. “Thank you for this warm, wonderful welcome you have given me,” he began, visibly pleased with the reception. He praised the level of work on the ground, marvelling that since his youth, he had “not seen this kind of work take place here.”
Turning political, Dion Ngute tied Tiko’s future to Biya’s leadership:
“I think the President of the Republic has decided to modernise Tiko. And you know, from childhood, Tiko has three things: Tiko has ports, Tiko has CDC. Don’t you hear the money he gives for CDC? After 20 billion, he added another 30-something billion – over 50 billion for CDC. Aren’t you glad?”
He hammered home the point that only Biya had guaranteed Tiko’s core economic pillars, before asking the crowd a pointed question:
“If you want me to remain Prime Minister, I will continue with all this good work. What will you do? Will you vote for President Biya?”
His rhetorical flourish, blending local pride with a call to political loyalty, sent the crowd into loud cheers.
GM of Douala Port Says Modernisation is a National Priority
Speaking earlier, the General Manager of the Port of Douala emphasised the port’s strategic importance to the region and the national economy.
He reminded the audience that the state-owned Port Authority had entrusted management of Tiko Port to the Douala structure, aligning with decrees dating back to 1999. Recent reforms, he said, focused on modernisation, safety, and human rights compliance.
“This initiative, with a budget of around 8 billion CFA francs, seeks not only to restore a modern image to this secondary port but also to support implementation and job creation through the importance of stability,” the GM declared.
He framed Tiko’s rehabilitation as part of Cameroon’s broader industrial and logistical transformation, capable of attracting foreign investment, creating free zones, and positioning the port as a regional catalyst.
Mayor of Tiko HRH Peter Ikome Mesoso Ill: “This Project is Our Cover”
The Mayor of Tiko framed the Prime Minister’s presence as political insurance for his people.
“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 said, sparking laughter.
The mayor underscored the long-standing expectations of the population, noting that many residents had grown sceptical after repeated promises of rehabilitation.
“The step you are taking today is giving me cover with my people, to believe that I have been telling them the truth,” he explained.
He went further, highlighting Tiko’s natural maritime depth of 12 metres – deep enough to host large ships – and recalling that over 100 cars had once been offloaded at the port. This, he argued, showed the port’s enormous potential if properly modernised.
Turning emotional, he broadened his plea beyond the port:
“One more thing is remaining that the people are holding me by the neck – the airport. The people of Fako look on to that day when these things will be done to change our life.”
He reassured the Prime Minister that Fako remained loyal to President Biya, describing the Head of State as their “godfather” whose instructions guide every step of development.
PM Dion Ngute reminded the population that development is inseparable from political stability.
The Port GM’s assurances of modernisation and investment gave the event an economic lens, while the mayor’s plain-spoken gratitude and demands for more development brought the people’s voice to the fore.
For Tiko, the port rehabilitation marks the rebirth of an economic lifeline once known for its bustling maritime trade. For Dion Ngute, it was an opportunity to cement loyalty to President Biya ahead of the ballot.
As the Prime Minister concluded his address, his message resonated clearly: the modernisation of Tiko is no longer a distant promise but a reality unfolding before the people’s eyes. The challenge now lies in maintaining momentum and ensuring that the projects reach completion within their set deadlines, delivering lasting benefits to the local community and the nation at large.
