By Makutu Manneh
Ebrima Sillah, the minister of Transport, Works, and Infrastructure, has disclosed that the contract for the expansion and modernization of Banjul International Airport is expected to be awarded before the end of June 2026.
In a recent interview with Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS), Mr. Sillah said the country’s main airport is currently facing congestion and aging infrastructure, noting that even basic systems such as air conditioning occasionally fail.
He explained that the government has already awarded a contract for a feasibility and design study to determine the type of airport The Gambia should develop and the standards it should meet.
“That study is underway; once it is completed, we will issue another tender to build a new airport—one that meets the standards of major international airports because we want The Gambia to become a transit hub,” Mr. Sillah said.
According to the minister, the first phase of the expansion and modernization project is expected to increase the airport’s capacity to about two million passengers annually. In the long term, the government aims to expand the facility to accommodate between seven and ten million passengers each year.
Mr. Sillah added that several major international firms have already expressed interest in the project, including companies from Saudi Arabia, China, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Banjul International Airport was originally built in 1942 during World War II by Allied forces, particularly for use by the Royal Air Force, as a strategic transit base. Today, the country’s only international airport continues to grapple with aging infrastructure, power reliability issues, and increasing pressure on its terminal facilities.
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