Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Minister of Transport, Works and Infrastructure, Hon. Ebrima Sillah, has expressed strong disapproval towards scrap metal retailers and automobile repair companies misusing newly constructed roads in The Gambia. Speaking during an inspection tour of project sites in the Greater Banjul Area on Saturday, November 2, 2024, Sillah condemned the practice of dumping waste materials and used engine oil onto the roads and into drainage systems.

“I am very upset with these auto-mechanics and scrap metal businesses who are dumping waste into the gutters and used engine oils onto our roads that are yet to be commissioned,” Minister Sillah stated firmly while at Brufut. He emphasized the urgent need for public cooperation in maintaining the roads, which are part of a broader effort to improve the country’s infrastructure.

The minister further called on local government councils, communities, and the general public to take ownership of the newly constructed roads, ensuring they remain clean and well-maintained. He issued a stern warning that individuals caught littering or improperly disposing of waste on the roads would face severe consequences.

“I’m urging the local government councils, communities, and the public to take ownership and maintain the cleanliness of these roads. They should report anyone who litters or dumps rubbish on these gutters,” he urged.

During the tour, Joseph Raymond Sandy, the project manager for PAVI-Ford, reported significant progress on the Wullinkama-Brufut-Ghana Town road project, stating that over 90% of the work had been completed. “We are confident that we’ll meet the addendum timeline of November 15, 2024,” he assured.

Echoing the commitment to quality, Sulayman Sumareh Janneh, Deputy Managing Director of the National Roads Authority (NRA), highlighted the continuous collaboration between the NRA and project consultants to uphold engineering and design standards. “We have our site engineers working with our consultants to ensure contractors deliver not only first-class roads but also roads that are durable,” Janneh affirmed.

The minister’s inspection began at the P16 GTMI-Kanifing General Hospital site and covered various key locations, including P2 Kanifing-Methodist, P15 Bundung Latrikunda, P10 Amsterdam-Junction Ba road, Muhammad Jah Junction-Brufut road, and the Wullinkama-Brufut-Ghana Town route—part of the 50km OIC roads project.

Minister Sillah expressed satisfaction with the overall progress observed at these sites, reinforcing the government’s commitment to delivering high-quality infrastructure for public benefit.