Dr. Ahmadou Sardaouna instructed the project manager to present a new roadmap given the observed delays in the execution of this 10,000-unit housing project.
The DG of SIC urges the Italian constructor to accelerate the works.
Phase I of the design and construction project for 10,000 housing units and their socio-cultural facilities in Yaoundé and its surroundings by Impresa Pizzarotti &C.SPA is struggling. This is evident from the visit on July 2, 2025, by the Director General of SIC, Dr. Ahmadou Sardaouna. This evaluation day took place in two stages. First stop, the visit to the EKOKO II site. Assisted by a delegation, Dr. Ahmadou Sardouna thoroughly inspected the construction site in general, the model building and model apartment, and the access road. In the locality of Nkolmeyos, in Mfou, a debriefing session followed the visit.
New Roadmap
These works, which began in September 2021 and July 2022 in Ekoko II and in November 2022 in Nkolmeyos, are progressing erratically on the ground. Currently estimated at 40.37%, with 207 out of 240 housing units already completed on this pilot site in Ekoko II, the project’s completion deadline, set for October 2026, will not be met.
A view of the Pizzarotti project.
A finding made by the project owner regarding certain delays observed in the execution of several aspects of the construction. Given this non-compliance with the specifications binding the State of Cameroon to its Italian partner, Dr. Ahmadou Sardaouna instructed all stakeholders to present a new roadmap. Accompanied by precise deadlines, it will help boost activities and ensure compliance with contractual deadlines.
Extension of Delivery Deadlines
Dr. Ahmadou Sardaouna concerned about the progress of the works, on July 2, 2025, in Ekoko II.
To justify itself, the Italian constructor, aware of these financial and administrative bottlenecks, reassures of its willingness to complete this project. Promising a return to normalcy in the coming months during an audience in April 2025. At the Nkolmeyos industrial base, recent logistical reinforcements have been made. For example, the introduction of a mobile concrete production unit. It is intended to improve the pace and autonomy of the construction site. However, a readjustment of priorities is also observed. Impresa Pizzarotti &C.SPA is requesting a 24-month extension of the execution deadlines for the Industrial Base, pushing it to 2028. The examination of this request by Cameroonian stakeholders took into account the options provided by the Public Procurement Code. Since then, the finalization of Base work is projected to begin in November 2026, followed by maximum technology transfer.
