President Adama Barrow of the Gambia is continuing his tour of the country’s constitutional requirements and has announced that the government will build 36 kilometres of roads in the Niani District of the Central River Region North as part of his ambitions to upgrade the nation’s road system.
He claimed that this is a component of his government’s dedication to enhancing road infrastructure development, which will link communities and solve issues with rural residents’ access to a good road network, among other things.
According to officials, the roadways will be built in three distinct portions within the Niani District of CRR North, encompassing three lots.
Addressing the difficulties Gambians face would remain a top priority for my administration, Barrow stated during a joint meeting in Sami Pachonki village. Road networks, agriculture, health care, peace, and security will be important. “I will keep working to improve the lives of Gambian people because I am employed by you, the people,” he declared.
He noted that the government is now researching the roads in preparation for work to start by 2025.
He added that these main highways will begin in Jarmeh Koto and go to places like Touba Mballow, Choya Kuta, Jantaba, Fula Kunda, Kuntaur, Towassu, Fula Kunda, Jataba, Kayai, Niani Kayai, Niani Sukuta, Barra Jally Touba, Barra Jally Tenda, and more.
Similar to earlier gatherings, Barrow called on Gambians to preserve the nation’s peace and stability in order to guarantee everyone’s quick microeconomic growth.
He also exhorts the nation’s youth to seize the chances the government has created for their personal development.
He stated that in order to achieve the nation’s goal of eliminating rice imports, the government will keep working with the private sector on rice production.
In order to offer the local populations high-quality healthcare, he also pledged to renovate the Kuntaur Health Centre and construct a health centre in Sami and Jataba Omar.
He promised that an evaluation of the poor groundnut harvest, which farmers have frequently brought to their attention, would be carried out by the agriculture ministry and its technicians.
When the Gambian leader visited a TVET centre that is presently being built in Wassu, he urged the contractors to guarantee the project’s prompt completion while encouraging young people to acquire skills and work for themselves.
People in the area continue to call on the government to do more, particularly on roads that connect communities in the interior parts of the region, to provide clean and potable drinking water, build women’s gardens, and other social projects, in appreciation of some of the developmental projects that the government has brought to their doorsteps, such as water and electricity projects.
“These are communities that are a bit far from the health centres, and the road within the area is in bad condition,” said Mam Demba Jallow, Chief of Sami District, who pleaded with the president to assist them by building a hospital in each of the Sami Omar Jula and Yallal Karantaba districts.
“The availability of electricity has served as a source of income for the community, especially we the women, as we can now make ice blocks and sell them,” said Sami woman Fanta Ceesay, who praised the government for supplying them with energy.
“Women who are in labour go all the way to Bansang Hospital if they have any complications,” she added, pleading for the president to provide them with a health clinic and clean drinking water.
The area’s Lady Councillor, Mariama Bah, also made a plea for the development of quality roads in their neighbourhoods.
The female council member went on to say: “A woman was killed recently while travelling to the health clinic because of the state of the road. Before arriving at the hospital, she lost a significant amount of blood. She died during labour as a result of numerous problems brought on by this circumstance.
“Due to the state of the road, we, the residents of Niamina Mayo, travel all the way to Kuntaur to receive medical attention by either using a horse or donkey cart,” she continued.
One Niani resident, Saffie Kanteh, stated: “There are bad roads in Niani. In addition to roads, we are devoid of other essential facilities.
Sami and Niani all profited from the government-subsidized fertiliser supply, according to Demba Sabally, Minister for Agriculture, Livestock, and Food Security, who addressed some of the issues expressed.
He asserted that the government had given the people of Niani Sukuta a 30-hectare farm with fertilisers and seeds for rice and groundnuts.
Minister Sabally claimed that the GIRAV and ROOTS matching grants had benefited the local community and that GAFSP will supply them with seeds, gardens, and other resources for further agricultural projects.
“One thousand four hundred and eighty-five (1,485) bags of fertiliser were given to rice farmers at no cost as well as thirteen thousand five hundred kilogrammes (13,500 kg) of rice seeds to Sami and Niani,” he stated.
Minister Sabally stated that they would look into the poor peanut harvest.
“Skills acquisition is key towards nation building,” said Amat N.K. Bah, Minister of Local Government, Lands, and Religious Affairs, in his speech, encouraging young people to acquire new talents. Being self-employed will benefit you if you possess the necessary abilities.
