By Mbah Godlove
Residents of Bamenda had hoped the new year would bring relief from persistent electricity shortages. Instead, the situation appears to be getting worse.
In his end of year address to citizens of French Cameroun, President Paul Biya, now 93, announced the renationalisation of electricity supply as a major achievement. The move was presented as a step toward improving power delivery nationwide. On the ground, however, realities tell a different story.
Barely a day after the presidential speech, residents in Buea took to the streets to protest prolonged power outages. In Bamenda, similar frustrations have been building for months. Some neighbourhoods report going close to a year without stable electricity.
The impact has been severe.
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Small business owners who rely on electricity are struggling to survive
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Students are forced to study in darkness
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Households face worsening living conditions
Many residents say the ongoing war in Ambazonia has worsened an already fragile electricity system. To them, renationalisation does not address the root of the problem.
A Bamenda-based businessman expressed deep frustration over the government’s takeover of electricity supply from ENEO. He said the decision would only make matters worse, arguing that those in power show little concern for the suffering of Ambazonians. According to him, the conflict would have long ended if the government truly prioritized the people.
So far, there is no clear indication of concrete measures being taken to restore electricity in affected areas of Bamenda. Days after the president’s announcement, skepticism remains widespread.
For many residents, hope is fading, and the promise of improved electricity supply feels increasingly distant.
