Magil Construction Blast Cameroon Minister Of Sports, Air Its Side Of The Olembe Complex Ordeal

Accused by the Minister of Sports and Physical Education of Cameroon, Narcisse Mouelle Kombi, of having received a significant advance to complete the construction of the Olembé sports complex – without carrying out the work, the Canadian company MAGIL reacted to allegations. Here is a statement below;

While discussions have been stalled for several months, Magil Construction Corporation participated on January 10, 2023 in Yaoundé – had several meetings with the authorities concerning the construction of the Olembe sports complex.

As part of the amicable settlement process called for, these meetings were an opportunity for the company to reassure the Government of its commitment but also to alert it to the difficulties inherent in the project.

“The contractual breaches of the Ministry in charge of the sports contributed in putting the project in jeopardy.” A statement from Magil read.

With more than 75 years of expertise, Magil Construction, a subsidiary of the Fayolle group, is a Canadian construction company of international scope carrying out infrastructural projects in industrial, commercial, residential and institutional sectors, particularly in Canada and the Caribbean. , South America, Africa and Asia.

In Cameroon since 2017, Magil Construction Corporation has been supporting the State on several projects such as the rehabilitation of Douala National Road 13, the rehabilitation of Douala’s reunification stadium and the construction of the Olembe sports complex in Yaounde.

Nevertheless, the construction of the Olembe complex faces many difficulties related to its execution.

A contract for the provision of professional services (EPCM) binds the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education of Cameroon (MINSEP) and MAGIL Construction Corporation since January 3, 2020 in view of supporting the Ministry in the execution of the works following the departure of the GRUPPO PICINI company, reported contractual breaches by MINSEP has contribute to jeopardizing the project.

While its the start of the year 2023, MAGIL and the stadium’s subcontractors have not received any payment for their invoices counted and validated by MINSEP, since July 2021.

It plces many subcontractors in a situation of financial asphyxiation. This non-payment of invoices was accompanied, in addition to the non-renewal of tax and customs exemptions linked to the project, the discovery of numerous defects in the stadium and these requests for additional work increasing the total construction budget.

Aware of the objective to be achieved and the importance of the sports complex, emblem of the country which made Cameroonians proud during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Magil Construction Corporation has initiated steps to find a way conciliation for the proper execution of this project with in particular the establishment of amicable settlement mechanisms with MINSEP on August 12, 2022, followed by a Conciliation Committee on August 23, 2022.

Subsequently, multiple statements sent to the Ministry has remained without follow-up.

In fact, MAGIL Construction Corporation, after having exhausted all remedies and initiated all amicable settlement mechanisms, found itself forced on December 5, 2022, to give notice to MINSEP to regularize its obligations within 30 days to avoid the termination of the main contract and its referral to arbitration.

This statements were unanswered but was the subject of a letter for the attention of the Secretariat of the Prime Minister containing erroneous and slanderous information, transmitted to the media and altering the image of Magil Construction Corporation and that of its collaborators.

Nevertheless, Magil Construction Corporation, engaged in the conciliation process called for and in order to complete the major project, after taking part in various meetings on January 10, 2023 in the presence of several representatives of the Government.

Franck Mathière Executive Vice-President of Magil Construction Corporation declared “We are proud to have brought our expertise and our contribution to this emblematic project. As long-standing partners, we reiterate our commitment to the State of Cameroon and hope that the provisions of the contract signed will be respected in order to pay the subcontractors who have worked tirelessly for the success of the AFCON and contributed to the influence of the country on the international scene”, reads a press release signed in Yaounde, on Wednesday January 11, 2023 by MAGIL.

The company, however, says nothing about the huge salaries paid to immigrant employees, the over-invoicing and double invoicing of which it is accused by the MINSEP.

The Minister of Sports Narcisse Mouelle Kombi, bashed in a statement will certainly not delay reacting.