Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL) – In preparations for the upcoming Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in The Gambia, Yankuba Dibba, the Chief Executive Officer of the OIC Gambia Secretariat, revealed a stunning logistical challenge. Due to a lack of sufficient parking space at Banjul International Airport, some aircraft belonging to high-profile delegates attending the summit will be parked at the old Yoff Airport in Dakar, Senegal.

Addressing the weekly government press conference, Ambassador Dibba clarified that to address this challenge, a cooperation with Senegal has been established, allowing the use of the old Yoff Airport for parking flights, particularly for heads of state who plan to stay longer.

This arrangement is not due to accommodation issues in The Gambia, according to Ambassador Dibba. He emphasized that the country can comfortably accommodate over 5000 delegates.

The OIC Secretariat, Dibba stated, is fully prepared to host the summit. The government has disbursed over D400 million for the organization of the event. Despite ample accommodation, the main issue lies in the limited parking space for aircraft at Banjul International Airport, which can only accommodate up to 15 additional planes along with the normal scheduled flights.

Regarding transportation, Dibba revealed that approximately 400 vehicles have been arranged for the transportation of delegates throughout the summit. This includes 100 vehicles gifted to The Gambia by the Mauritanian government, another 100 purchased by The Gambia government, and additional vehicles acquired through a D100 million allocation for rentals.

Catering for the summit will be fully provided, with each head of state assigned a team of chefs and waiters. The government of Morocco has intervened to oversee catering and food for all the heads of state attending the summit.

Despite challenges, Dibba expressed confidence that the summit will proceed smoothly. The event will feature sessions for ambassadors and senior state officials, followed by a ministerial council meeting and a meeting of heads of state.

The first batch of delegates, including the OIC Secretary-General, was expected to arrive yesterday evening, with over 300 delegates from Saudi Arabia.