Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The government of The Gambia has spent a whopping D2,879,432,900 on vehicles, maintenance, fuel, and lubricants since 2020, raising concerns about inefficiencies and a lack of regulatory oversight. The Standard Newspaper, referencing the 2025 national estimates, reports that an additional D1,621,253,000 has been budgeted for similar expenditures, sparking debate over the sustainability of such spending.

Government records as of December 2019 reveal that the state fleet comprises 925 vehicles, 12% of which are project-specific, while the remaining 88% are categorized as VIP or general-purpose vehicles. Additionally, there are 266 motorcycles designated for mail delivery and other office services.

Critics attribute the hefty maintenance costs to several systemic challenges, including the absence of an approMotorcypriate institutional and regulatory framework, inefficiencies in procurement processes, poor operational management, inadequate monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, limited capacity building for drivers, and insufficient government involvement in the procurement of project vehicles.

To address these issues, the Ministry of Works and Transport validated a draft vehicle policy in 2021 aimed at streamlining the management of government vehicles. The proposed policy provides comprehensive guidelines on procurement, operations, maintenance, and disposal of vehicles. Key provisions include centralizing all government vehicles under a dedicated transport department and introducing standardized number plates for official vehicles.

The draft policy also outlines specific allocations for ministers to receive a 4×4 flag vehicle and a saloon utility vehicle. Permanent secretaries and their deputies would be allocated official vehicles. Deputy permanent secretaries or directors opting for car loans would be entitled to fuel allocations for official duties. Meanwhile, other senior officials would access vehicles on a departmental requisition basis.

Despite its promise, little progress has been made on implementing the policy, with its current status remaining unclear.

Source: Standard Newspaper