The Cameroonian Minister of Public Works, Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi, recently chaired a meeting of the monitoring committee for the Kribi-Lolabe highway public-private partnership contract. The committee reviewed the performance of the 38.5 km highway and its 4.9 km connecting roads, which were built by China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd (CHEC). As of September 15, 2026, 870,598 vehicles had used the highway, which is 25% of the expected traffic.
The actual toll revenue collected was 4.42 billion FCFA, which is 60% of the expected 7.36 billion FCFA. The shortfall in revenue is attributed to several factors, including the slow development of the industrial zone near the Port of Kribi, the absence of mining companies, and limited connectivity due to unfinished road projects. The condition of the Edéa-Kribi road and inadequate electricity supply also hinder the installation of businesses in the area.
The low revenue collection poses a significant challenge, as the monthly toll revenue of around 90 million FCFA is insufficient to cover the monthly operating costs of 509.7 million FCFA. The Minister of Public Works urged Kribi Highway Management (KHM), the concessionaire responsible for collecting tolls, to adjust its operations to align with the current situation. KHM is remunerated based on the toll revenue collected over a 30-year period.
The Kribi-Lolabe highway was built under a public-private partnership contract between the Cameroonian government and CHEC. The project includes the design, construction, partial financing, operation, and maintenance of the highway. The monitoring committee’s meeting aimed to assess the implementation of contractual obligations between the government and KHM.
According to the Minister of Public Works, several factors have contributed to the gap between expected and actual traffic on the highway. These include the slow occupation of the industrial zone near the Port of Kribi, the absence of expected mining companies, and limited connectivity due to unfinished road projects.
The condition of the Edéa-Kribi road and inadequate electricity supply have also hindered the development of businesses in the area. As a result, the government and KHM are exploring ways to address these challenges and improve the financial sustainability of the highway.
The meeting of the monitoring committee highlights the need for closer collaboration between the government and KHM to ensure the effective operation of the Kribi-Lolabe highway. The parties must work together to find solutions to the current challenges and ensure that the highway operates efficiently and effectively.
Key points
- Only 60% of expected tolls collected on Kribi-Lolabe highway
- Low revenue collection poses significant challenge to highway's financial sustainability
- Government and concessionaire exploring solutions to current challenges
