New Njinikom Market opens to the public

By Jean Marie Ngong Song

Cross section of the new market

The newly constructed Baingeh market in Njinikom co-financed by PNDP and the Njinikom Council has been opened to the public for business transactions.

The keys of the market were handed over to the mayor Njinikom Council on February 19, 2016 in a ceremony that saw the population come out in their numbers to welcome the gift.

                The market made up of 4 blocks of 25 sheds, one manger of twelve stands, a VIP toilet with 6 squatting holes, electricity and portable water has completely transformed the use to be foodstuff dominated little market of Baingeh where business was done in the open.

                Speaking at the handing over ceremony Feb 19, the project owner, the mayor of Njinikom who received the project on behalf of the municipality, described the new market as a new dawn in the economic life of Njinikom sub division.

                “This market shall ameliorate the living and economic standards of Njinikom. It will boost the council revenue and once more, Baingeh will take its permanent place of feeding a greater part of the northwest and beyond as business in food stuffs and related products can now be done in clean, secured and comfortable environment” 

                He said Njinikom has had its own fair share of the PNDP projects in 2015 in several areas like the ongoing constructions of 20 market sheds in the former motor park, provision of portable water in Yang, the ongoing road rehabilitation of Kikfini-Mbueni road, supply of benches to four secondary schools and capacity building of some four council staff, all thanks to the fruitful partnership Njinikom council enjoys with PNDP.

                Mayor Terence Chah Bam also announced projects in view like the construction of class rooms in Kikfini and more market sheds in the Njinikom central market and a canteen.

                On his part, the PNDP Regional Coordinator Nkanjo Bruno Daniel, while calling on the beneficiaries to put the FCFA 88 million market into judicious use, safe and keep clean, announced that his service will update the Njinikom council development plan and implement some projects.

Quizzed on why sponsor such project in Njinikom, the PNDP regional coordinator said it was just the turn of Njinikom.

                ”The people identify a project, take it to the mayor and after approval, the mayor forwards it to us for co-financing. It is coincidental that in 2015 while rounding off with the C2D funds, Njinikom council received the biggest share of PNDP sponsored projects” revealed the coordinator.

                It is worth mentioning that Njinikom municipality is mainly and agrarian community that thrives in subsistent agriculture with large quantities of food stuffs that continue to pull buyers from the North West region and beyond. A market of this magnitude was therefore a timely intervention.