By: Kebba Ansu Manneh
In a decisive response to mounting public outcry over deteriorating infrastructure, the National Roads Authority (NRA), under the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, launched an urgent road rehabilitation project in Churchill’s Town on Friday, September 12.
The late-night operation, completed in mere hours, has alleviated long-standing woes for pedestrians and commuters navigating the pothole-riddled stretch, signaling a bold new era in Gambian road maintenance.
The initiative comes amid growing frustration from residents in the bustling Greater Banjul suburb, where crumbling roads have exacerbated traffic congestion, vehicle damage, and safety risks.
Churchill’s Town, a vital artery linking residential areas to key commercial hubs, has been a flashpoint for complaints, with social media abuzz in recent weeks over flooded pathways and erratic traffic flow during rainy seasons.
NRA’s swift action underscores the government’s commitment to responsive governance, transforming a chronic headache into a smoother commute overnight. Sulayman Sumareh Janneh, Acting Director of the NRA and recently appointed Deputy Managing Director, led the on-site briefing amid the hum of machinery under floodlights. Janneh, whose expertise has been lauded internationally – including his 2025 induction as the sole African board member of the International Road Federation (IRF Global) – explained the rationale behind the rapid intervention. “This urgent rehabilitation addresses the public’s plea by employing a streamlined approach that wraps up in just a few hours,” he stated, emphasizing the NRA’s pivot toward efficiency.
Drawing lessons from protracted projects like the Latrikunda Sabiji rehabilitation, which dragged on for months and snarled traffic, Janneh highlighted innovative strategies designed for brevity. “We’ve been studying ways to rehabilitate roads in very short timeframes,” he noted.
“Past experiences motivated us to overhaul our methods, reducing downtime from months to hours.” This shift, he added, decongests traffic while leveraging the NRA’s skilled workforce – though equipment shortages remain a hurdle. The Acting Director candidly addressed operational challenges, revealing that while expertise abounds, the lack of in-house machinery forces reliance on outsourcing. “What we’d prefer is for the NRA to own its equipment, enabling us to execute tasks effectively and swiftly, like tonight, without the public even noticing,”
Janneh disclosed during the midnight works. “The equipment issue is under review as a forward path to rehabilitate critical infrastructure independently.” He projected that procuring assets could slash costs and timelines, positioning the NRA as a self-reliant force in national development.
Janneh hailed the Churchill’s Town effort as a resounding success, dubbing it “the new way of maintaining our roads from now on.” The resurfaced stretch, he assured, is built to endure despite its expedited execution. “This road should have been fixed long ago, but factors beyond our control delayed it,” he conceded. “Rest assured, it will stand the test of time.” The project saved millions of dalasis by targeting only damaged sections for resurfacing, ditching outdated full-road tarring that inflated budgets and prolonged disruptions.
Turning to perennial issues like poor drainage fueling waterlogging on highways, Janneh advocated a holistic fix. “Managing drainage demands a comprehensive approach,” he affirmed. The NRA has conducted studies and forwarded recommendations to stakeholders, outlining systemic upgrades for the nation’s road networks. “We’ve mapped what needs doing to tackle drainage woes head-on,” he said, urging inter-agency collaboration to prevent seasonal flooding that erodes progress.
The Ministry of Works and Infrastructure threw its full weight behind the NRA. Permanent Secretary Samba C. Mballow, a seasoned civil servant with a track record in high-level deployments – including his prior role at the Office of the Vice President – pledged unwavering support. “The ministry will continue collaborating, monitoring, and assessing NRA works to uphold quality standards,” Mballow stated. His assurance aligns with the government’s broader infrastructure push, including over 800 kilometers of paved roads constructed since 2018, aimed at bolstering economic growth and connectivity. Residents woke Saturday to a revitalized road, with early feedback praising the seamless execution. “It’s like night and day – no more dodging craters,” said local vendor Awa Jallow, echoing commuter relief.
For the NRA, this marks a template for future interventions, potentially rolling out to hotspots like Bertil Harding Highway amid OIC preparations. Janneh’s vision, informed by global insights from IRF forums, positions Gambia at the forefront of adaptive road stewardship.
As The Gambia eyes sustainable development, Churchill’s Town triumph exemplifies how targeted, tech-savvy fixes can restore trust in public works. With equipment upgrades on the horizon and drainage reforms brewing, motorists and pedestrians alike can anticipate a network that’s not just repaired, but resilient – paving the way for smoother journeys ahead.
