The collection of soil samples for eventual testing has begun in Limbe. This is the kickoff process to determine if the soils at the designated site will be firm enough to withstand the weight of the 15,000 seater capacity stadium earmarked for construction in Limbe.
The former site at Bonadikombo (Mile Four) had been disqualified some months back after soil samples collected from there proved not suitable for the envisaged construction. The Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Michel Zoah, had already laid the foundation stones in December 2009, for the construction of the Limbe and Bafoussam stadiums valued at some FCFA 35 billion.
But it later happened that the Government of Cameroon had tried putting their carts before their horses as geological studies of the soils at the sites later proved that the two « Foundation Stone sites » in Limbe and Bafoussam were not worthy. The Post gathered that the Mile Four site was said to be swampy while that of Bafoussam contains a lot of water and serves as storage for underground telephone cables. This prompted the Government to go in quest of new sites.
In Limbe, a new site was located, yet, within the Cameroon Development Corporation palm plantation, this time at Ngeme, Limbe II Sub Division. The site is located northward, about some 800 meters away from the main road leading to SONARA. It is on an elevated area, inside the palms and will probably give a good tourist view of the sea when completed.
According to the Cartographers there is going to be a lot of bulldozing work to be done at the site. Far from the main road, a new road is expected be constructed to link the stadium, including amenities like water, electricity and more.
When The Post visited the site on Monday, January 24, Martin Alima, a Technician with Cameroon’s Engineering Laboratory unit in Yaounde said; « We are collecting soil samples which will be used to do analysis back in the lab to test for the resistance of the soil ». The Post gathered that the DO of the Limbe II Sub Division, Charles Duala Fomubod was on the site on Tuesday, January 25, alongside the Mayor of the Limbe II Council, Duncan Molindo.
By Francis Tim Mbom
