By Felix Ewange
Bangem is a fast-growing municipality in both population and diversity in cultural inheritance, soon transforming itself from a village setting to urbanization. With the envisaged Bangem-Nguti road, and subsequent developments the expansion and growth of the town is imminent.
Considering this, the next thirty years and above, neighbouring villages like Ekambeng, Mbat, Ndibsi, Enyandong, Nninong, etc. would be engulfed into a single entity with only sign boards seen as demarcations differentiating one village from the other.
Planning of the town in terms of building constructions and road infrastructure should therefore be given utmost priority.
While town planning officials should be allowed to effectively do their job, there is need for some guidance and orientation to reflect our cultural heritage and at the same time potential business diversity and growth .
House construction should not be limited to single family homes alone, but hotels and apartment buildings to accommodate low income personnel be encouraged by those who can afford it.
In view of the influx of the working population that is moving to Bangem, house construction should not be centered only in the central part of the municipality, but neighboring villages should endeavour to do same in their neighborhoods because in the foreseeable future workers would be commuting to and from their native residential areas to Bangem central reporting for duty.
STREET NAMING
Street names are identifications given to streets or roads. A street name usually forms part of the address in most parts of the world. Houses are constructed on both sides of the streets for easy identification, accessibility and numbering according to their location. Street names are always given in two parts – an individual name known as specific, e.g, Chief Nnane’s street, Akamekongwe’s street, Chief Makoge’s street, Ewanoge’s street, Ebong Ngole’s, Chief Esong’s Street Pende Sone’s streetr, etc.and an indicator of the type of street known as generic, e.g, street (St), road (Rd), court (Ct), Avenue (Ave), place (Pl), etc.
Houses should also be numbered in numerical form with odd numbers on one side and even numbers on the other side.
With this, I am suggesting that existing numerical appellation of streets in Bangem municipality and environs (streets 1,2,3,4) be changed to important personalities in the division either late or still alive as mentioned above in recognition of their works or legacy( Economic, cultural or otherwise) in the municipality.
We need to pay allegiance to our ancestors and appreciate the living by honouring them for their services to mankind. At least despite the odds, their efforts created an indelible mark on our lives.
Felix Ewange. ( Germantown, MD. USA)
