Gambiaj.com, (KANIFING, THE GAMBIA) — Students at the University of The Gambia on Monday staged a protest over persistent welfare and infrastructure problems at the Faraba Campus, citing the prolonged closure of the cafeteria, unreliable transport, inadequate water supplies and poor internet connectivity.
The protest on Monday, October 26, was led by Student Union President Ismaila Fadera and the union’s 24th Executive Council, which represents more than 12,000 students, according to the union.
The students say the problems have continued six weeks into the 2026/2027 academic year and are increasingly affecting their ability to attend classes, complete academic work and access basic services on campus.
Food And Water Shortages
The closure of the Faraba Campus cafeteria has left students struggling to find food during the academic day. The union is calling for urgent action to restore reliable access to meals.
Students also complained about inadequate supplies of potable water, adding to concerns over basic welfare conditions on campus.
Poor internet connectivity was another major concern raised during the protest. Students say unreliable access is affecting research, coursework and assessments that increasingly depend on online resources.
Transport Problems
Transport has emerged as another major source of frustration.
The Student Union says available buses are insufficient and departure times are unreliable, leaving some students late for classes or unable to attend academic activities.
The union cited an incident at pickup points along the Coastal Road and at Sukuta Traffic Light, where students reportedly waited for buses that did not arrive. Some students were forced to return home, while others reportedly missed classes and tests.
The students are demanding a more reliable transport system that can accommodate the university’s growing student population.
Concerns Over Academic Facilities
Students also raised concerns about conditions at the School of Medical and Allied Health Sciences, where they say some toilets have become unfit for use and electrical sockets in a lecture hall are not functioning.
Science students are demanding laboratories to support practical learning, while journalism students say they still lack a dedicated studio.
The union also raised concerns about the workload at the School of Journalism, claiming that some lecturers are handling more than seven courses.
Gomez Pledges Action
Higher Education Minister Professor Pierre Gomez attended the protest and acknowledged the concerns raised by the students.
Gomez said his ministry would work towards addressing the problems and indicated that some interventions were already under way.
“We’re going to look into the matter and ensure that we solve it,” he told the students.
The minister said he had a responsibility to confront the problems rather than remain in his office while students continued to experience difficulties.
“I cannot sit in my office and allow things to continue. I’m here paid by taxpayers’ money,” Gomez said.
He acknowledged the students’ dissatisfaction and said addressing their concerns was part of his responsibility as a government leader.
Gomez also pledged to visit the Faraba Campus on Tuesday to assess the situation and engage directly with the issues raised by the students.
“It might not be easy here and there, but I can assure you,” he said, promising that the authorities would work towards addressing the concerns.
The protest now places pressure on university management and the Ministry of Higher Education to turn those assurances into concrete measures. The timelines for resolving the problems and the specific interventions to be implemented remain to be established.
Leave a Reply