The river port of Garoua, located in the North Region of Cameroon, is the focus of an institutional takeover initiative. On April 2, 2026, the Prefect of Bénoué, Oumarou Haman Wabi, led a strategic consultation aimed at establishing a formal management committee for this infrastructure. This approach aims to establish more rigorous governance and transform the port into a genuine logistical and financial engine for the region.
According to the Garoua Urban Community (CUG), this meeting made it possible to define a clear operational roadmap. The Garoua town hall will thus have to appoint a technical and administrative team responsible for the daily management of the port. The prefect also insisted on strengthening cooperation between the defense forces and the security services, with a particular focus on the fight against smuggling. A census of all the actors operating on the site has been ordered, in particular the owners of artisanal canoes, often involved in illicit activities.
The port of Garoua, transferred to the CUG by the State in 2003 as part of decentralization, has remained under municipal supervision without a structured framework. This situation has led to informal management, harming the maintenance of facilities and the collection of port revenue. A report by the Audit Chamber of the Supreme Court highlighted the absence of collection of certain port dues between 2020 and 2024, due to the non-approval of taxes by the Prefect of Bénoué. Following a request for information from the CUG, the tariffs were finally approved by the National Port Authority (APN).
The current reorganization aims to regain administrative and technical control of an infrastructure that has gradually moved away from port management standards. The future management committee will be responsible for improving governance, supervising activities and securing port revenue. The authorities also wish to reduce the influence of informal networks, while the port no longer receives large regular commercial ships. This takeover will allow better control of flows, clean up operations and restore public authority to this strategic site.
Created in 1935, the port of Garoua is a key element of regional development, aiming to support cross-border trade with Nigeria and Chad. The establishment of this committee meets three objectives: to formalize port activities, secure its revenues and prepare for the implementation of a modernization project estimated at 16 billion FCFA. Beyond administrative reform, this initiative aims to redefine the economic function of this essential public equipment. The authorities hope to transform this takeover into concrete improvements in governance, security and logistical performance. The port of Garoua, once a dynamic trading center, has seen its activity decline due to various factors, including the Biafra war and the closure of the Nigerian border. Today, efforts are being made to revitalize this infrastructure and restore its role as an economic catalyst for the North region and beyond.
