Cameroon’s municipal authorities have moved to defend a CFA21.4 billion (US$35 million) solar streetlight project after public controversy erupted over the way the contract was awarded and its overall cost.
The Association of United Councils and Cities of Cameroon (CVUC), which represents the country’s 374 municipalities, said on February 6 that the project is legitimate, transparent and does not involve overpricing, despite concerns raised following the disclosure of an official government letter.
The debate was triggered after a letter from the Secretary General of the Presidency to the Minister of Public Contracts became public. The letter revealed that the contract to install 21,000 solar streetlights in urban areas had been awarded to French company Sunna Design through an emergency procurement procedure.
The disclosure sparked questions among civil society groups and the public over the justification for the emergency process, the cost per unit and the selection of a foreign supplier.
Municipalities Push Back
In a statement, the CVUC said the project, known as LUMCAM, is genuine and was designed to address long-standing public lighting challenges in Cameroon’s cities while delivering broader socio-economic benefits.
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“The project is not overpriced,” the association said, adding that public debate had overlooked the structure and scope of the contract.
According to the CVUC, LUMCAM is based on a “finance–build” model, under which the selected company is responsible for financing, supplying and installing the streetlights. The contract also includes a six-year warranty, covering maintenance and system performance.
Municipal officials say this model shifts financial and operational risks away from local governments while ensuring long-term service delivery.
Beyond Street Lighting
The CVUC stressed that the project extends beyond the installation of solar streetlights, positioning it as part of a broader urban development and capacity-building initiative.
Expected benefits include improved public security, particularly in poorly lit neighborhoods, the training of 800 municipal staff, and the creation of more than 3,000 jobs during implementation and maintenance phases.
The association also highlighted plans for technology transfer and the eventual establishment of a local assembly unit in Cameroon, which it said would support industrial development and reduce future dependence on imports.
“These additional commitments explain the overall cost structure of the project,” the CVUC said.
Cost Comparisons Under Scrutiny
Critics have compared LUMCAM to similar solar streetlight projects in other African countries, particularly Togo, where a government-backed programme known as PEPS reportedly delivered solar streetlights at a lower unit cost.
Addressing these comparisons, CVUC president and mayor of Yaoundé 7, Augustin Tamba, said such assessments were misleading.
He confirmed the total cost of CFA21.4 billion but said the PEPS project in Togo involved an average cost of CFA904,712 per streetlight, covering supply, installation, training and maintenance.
By contrast, the LUMCAM project in Cameroon would cost CFA1,019,048 per unit, reflecting what he described as a turnkey operation that includes extended warranties, job creation commitments, skills transfer and an industrial component.
“The difference in price reflects the broader scope of the contract,” Tamba said.
About the Contractor
Sunna Design, the company named as the future contract holder, was founded in 2011 and describes itself as France’s leading designer and manufacturer of smart, sustainable and connected solar streetlights.
The company says it has deployed more than 160,000 solar solutions in 60 countries, including projects across Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Transparency Questions Remain
Despite the CVUC’s defense, questions persist over the use of the emergency procurement procedure, with critics calling for greater transparency and parliamentary oversight.
For now, municipal authorities maintain that LUMCAM represents a strategic investment in urban safety, clean energy and local capacity-building and insist that the project’s value should be assessed beyond the headline cost.
