Fungom D.O, Awounfac Alienou Yves Bertrand, Administrator of the Lake Nyos area asizes up the situation on-the -spot.

How would you size up the situation in and around lake Nyos now?

It is 24 years since the lake exploded and many things have happened down the years. There are new houses emerging around the lake but I must be categorical here that it is still a risk area and the government has not yet authorized any resettlement of survivors back in the area.

What continues to make the Lake a risk? Degasification is still going on in the lake. There are still gas concentrations in the lake and the population has been advised against settling around until the degassing process is over. The recent visit of the Minister of State for Territorial Administration and Decentralization was reassuring with Experts indicating that the degassing process is in its last stages to guarantee the area save and secure for habitation. This calls for patience.

What has the administration been doing to check or stop those who are increasingly returning to settle in the risk areas?

I remember that the governor of the North West Region recently instructed that an injunction should be passed prohibiting settlement around the lake. The Administration of Menchum has implemented the decision.

Can you identify the origins of those who have defied the injunction and are settled back in the lake area?

It is a big worry because though it is expected that only survivors should return to their ancestral land when the area is declared good for settlement, there is an unfortunate situation that even intruders are already resettling there. The fertility of the Lake Nyos area is very appealing to many from the area and neighbouring villages and far away communities of Fungom sub division, ( Bafmen, Weh, Kumfutu) Boyo and Donga Mantung divisions.

How is life around the lake daily? There is not much activity around the lake daily. The government has planted some equipment to monitor the lake's activities and there are military people taking guard of the installations round the clock. We also spot neighbouring villagers on the footpaths circulating to and from their communities without much to do in the lake as such. There are also farming activities far off the lake waters.

What is concrete about government's actions or secularization and the socio- economic reintegration of the lake area?

I think that even the blind see the enormous investments on course in the area. There is this huge road infrastructure leading to the lake proper. The government and international partners like the UNDP and the European Union have an impressive package for the project.

What are the local worries of Survivors?

Their major concern is resettlement in the land of their ancestors. It is difficult for people who were forced out of their place of birth to settle elsewhere for 24 years. They are nostalgic about their original land. They express a lot of problems without enough farmlands in their resettlement camps. They are united without grazing land, electricity etc for people who used to occupy vast lands.