By Aminata Sanneh
Information Officer, MOTWI
The Minister of Transport Works and Infrastructure, Honorable Ebrima Sillah has secured a school fencing project for Sika Primary School from the Compagnie Sahaliene D’entreprise(CSE), the contractor for the construction of the 84.5 kilometers Hakalang road in North Bank.
Honorable Sillah’s intervention came after the Headmaster of Sika Lower Basic School, Mr Maja B Janneh appealed to the Minster for the construction of speed bumps and the erection of the school perimeter fence sighting that strayed livestock occasionally interrupts learning activities.
Miss Nyima Camara, another teacher, praises the government for the new road, acknowledging that it has addressed health hazards. She also appealed for road signage such as zebra crossings to be provided.
Minister Sillah, responded to the concern raised by the teachers of the School by assuring them of his Ministry’s commitment to ensuring safety while stating that key social areas such as schools, mosques, health posts, and markets would be provided with speed humps.
The delegation further visited the Kerewan-Njawara Road Project, which is a 10 km double surface dressing, contracted to Gai Construction Company, a Gambian-owned company. The project, which started in May 2021, is 99% completed after some significant delays. Meanwhile, the Minister and his delegation concluded the Monday inspection tour at the BanniSalikene-Njaba Kunda Loop Road Project.
The 17km double surface dressing road project, which started from Banni Salikene to Njaba Kunda, is contracted to BajamEnterprise Limited, another Gambian-owned construction company, and NRA as the consultant on the project. The project currently achieved 70% progress. 16km of materials have been placed, and 1km of subbase is remaining.
Honorable Ebrima Sillah, the Minister for Transport, Works and Infrastructure expressed delight over the progress made in the Banni-Salikene road which covers over 70% of completed works.
“I expressed dissatisfaction some two months ago during my visit to inspect this road construction site. I am very pleased to see the progress made by the contractor who is a Gambian. I’m glad she took note of our concerns and acted accordingly. We are here to encourage and support Gambian businesses. However timely delivery of standard quality roads will not be compromised”, he emphasized.
He added that these roads are significant to the government and the people of the North Bank Region.
“What is left now for the Kerewan-Njawara project are safety precautions such as road markings and speed humps amongst others. We hope that by the end of July, the Banni Salikene-Njaba Kunda Road project will be completed with standard quality,” he noted.
Deputy Managing Director of National Road Authority, Mr. Sulayman Sumareh Janneh, said he is very impressed with the level of progress registered within the past two months in comparison with the previous visit.
Ma’am Marie Senghore, Managing Director of Bajam Enterprise Limited and one of the few competing women in the construction business expressed delight with the Gambia government for awarding her the contract.
The communities also expressed gratitude to President Barrow for this milestone development to their doorstep.
