As part of the ongoing Meet the People Tour, President Adama Barrow visited the Trans-Gambia Highway, NBR Roads Project Lots 1 and 2 in Sabach Sanjal and Kerr Jimbala, respectively, on Wednesday.
The Trans-Gambia highway has a futuristic plan for expansion to accommodate transit vehicles plying the subregion. This is part of the ECOWAS integration programme to enhance trade within Africa.
Reacting to the rousing welcome at the new Sabach Sukoto road junction, the President said it is a social contract to impact the lives of citizens, adding, "when we build roads, they connect people. That is why they elected me." President Barrow commended Areski for the timely completion of the road and for working within a budget. He called on other contractors to emulate them.
The ongoing 8KM Kaur-Jimbala Road is progressing and, upon completion, will connect the communities on the border with Senegal and ease socio-economic activities.
The President also stopped at the Fajara Stone mining site at Kaur, initiated by a native of Allunhareh in the URR, Muhammad Sissoho. The mining site processes stones into different grades for construction and bricklaying.
The President then proceeded to Njau for a joint meeting of the Lower and Upper Saloum and Nianija Constituencies. He also held a similar meeting in Laminkoto for Niani and Sami constituencies.
During the meetings, President Barrow was seen listening attentively as the locals expressed their concerns while praising the ongoing development initiatives in their regions. The President reassured them that despite the world economic crisis, his administration ensures reasonable pricing of essential commodities.
As the trade season kicks off on 1st December, President Barrow announced an increase in the price of groundnuts per ton from D28,000 to D32,000 as evidence of his government's commitment to agriculture. "Farmers deserve to have good prices from their hard labour," He stressed and urged Gambians to get involved in agriculture as his government is committed to supporting the sector.
The President called on the farmers to sell their groundnuts and other cereals to the government, revealing plans to make fertiliser available for the next rainy season.
The foundation-laying ceremony for the University of Science, Engineering, and Technology multipurpose centre in Wassu, CRR, was another significant highlight of day three of the tour. When the centre is completed, it will offer young people in the area the chance to develop technical and vocational skills that will help them enter the workforce. The centre's construction aligns with the government's intention to invest in TVET programmes to mitigate youth unemployment and irregular migration.
