The Canadian group Magil Construction has reiterated its interest in building a second bridge over the Dibamba River, at the eastern entrance to Douala, by submitting a financing offer of around 59 billion FCFA. This proposal was officially presented on February 24, 2026 to the Minister of Public Works, Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi, by Ralph Tropea, representative of the company.
Magil Construction's offer aims to bypass traditional financing procedures, which are often considered lengthy and complex, by proposing an EPC+F (Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Financing) arrangement. The objective is to accelerate the start of the works, aiming for a launch as early as the end of phase 2 of the eastern bypass, scheduled for June 2026. In this model, Magil would take charge of the design, execution and financing of the project, thus offering a "turnkey" solution.
The project to build a second bridge over the Dibamba has been on hold since 2021, due to difficulties in obtaining the 85.5 billion FCFA initially planned via Standard Chartered Bank London. The current structure, which is 42 years old, is showing signs of weakness and is no longer suitable for the heavy goods vehicle traffic it supports daily. Repairs have already been carried out on the deck of the bridge, which is over 400 meters long, and vibrations have recently been reported by users.
The construction of this second bridge is part of the wider development of the eastern bypass of Douala. This project aims to improve traffic flow on national road N3, a strategic axis linking Douala to Yaoundé and Kribi, where there is a deep-water port. This road is also an essential link in the Douala-N'Djamena and Douala-Bangui corridors, through which hundreds of billions of FCFA worth of goods destined for Chad and the Central African Republic transit each year.
The Ministry of Public Works is currently examining Magil Construction's proposal to assess its compatibility with the budgetary constraints of the 2026-2027 financial years. The 59 billion FCFA package proposed by the Canadian company corresponds to the initial estimate for the project.
In other news, the Société immobilière du Cameroun (SIC) has warned of a possible delay in the construction of 10,000 homes by the Italian company Pizzaroti, with a possible 24-month extension of the delivery deadline.
The condition of the current bridge is causing concern, with repairs underway following vibrations reported by motorists.
