By Seedy Jobe
The Ministry of Information, Media, and Broadcasting Services on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, presented the government’s strategic objectives and national priorities for the year during a general press briefing held at the Sir Dawda Jawara Conference Centre.
The briefing provided a comprehensive update on key government activities, policy directions, and development targets for the 2026 calendar year.
Addressing journalists, the Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Ismaila Ceesay, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to citizen engagement, referencing the president’s nationwide “Meet the People” tour, which has covered seven regions and focused on accountability and public feedback.
Dr. Ceesay reported significant progress in infrastructure development, noting that more than 1,200 kilometers of roads have been constructed since 2017, with an additional 500 to 2,000 kilometers planned. He also highlighted investments in energy and water, stating that electricity access has reached 90 percent nationwide, alongside continued subsidies for citizens.
On the economy, the minister said the country is projected to record a 5.9 percent growth rate by year’s end, while fiscal reforms have helped reduce the budget deficit to nearly one percent.
He further outlined improvements in the health sector, including an expansion of the national ambulance fleet from 60 to 170 vehicles and the construction of new health facilities. In education, he said the government has built 6,000 classrooms and more than 400 schools, with a focus on extending access to rural communities.
Dr. Ceesay also cited governance reforms, including the establishment of a national misinformation and disinformation response center, as well as the passage of data protection and anti-corruption legislation.
“Everybody contributed to the success of this country. We all should be proud of ourselves,” he said.
Also speaking at the briefing, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sering Modou Njie, confirmed that nine Gambian citizens have died in Russia, adding that investigations are ongoing to verify reports suggesting the death toll could be as high as 20.
“As of now, our mission in Russia has managed to establish that nine Gambian citizens were confirmed dead,” he said.
According to Hon. Njie, The Gambia’s mission in Moscow is working closely with Russian authorities to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths and to facilitate the repatriation of the remains.
“We are working with the Russian side to make sure that at least, you know, support can be done in terms of whether we can have the bodies, the remains of the citizens, so that they can be repatriated to the Gambia here,” he stated.
He stressed that the investigation remains ongoing and that the government is seeking to verify the higher figures being circulated. “The reports are not yet conclusive, but efforts are underway with the Russian authorities to establish whether the number could be 20,” he added.
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