By Fatou Sillah
Sulayman Saho, the National Assembly member for Central Badibou, has called for urgent improvements to roads across the North Bank Region, saying deteriorating conditions are disrupting travel, raising transportation costs, and hurting businesses and communities.
Speaking during a Matter of the Day at the National Assembly, Mr. Saho said residents of Niumi, Jokadou, Badibou, Sanjal and other parts of the region were struggling with roads damaged by potholes, erosion, and flooding.
He expressed particular concern about what he described as slow progress on road maintenance between Njamagen and Kuntaya, saying the condition of the route has contributed to higher transport fares and longer travel times.
The effects, he said, extend beyond transportation. Poor roads are making it more difficult and expensive for farmers and traders to reach markets in Barra, Banjul, and local weekly markets, commonly known as lumos.
Mr. Saho said farmers face delays transporting produce, while businesses contend with higher costs. Students and patients can also struggle to reach schools and health facilities, he said, particularly during the rainy season, when some communities become difficult to access.
“This is not merely a road problem; it is an economic, social, and public safety problem,” Mr. Saho said.
He called on the government to develop a national road maintenance strategy with clearly defined priorities, timelines, and dedicated funding. He also urged authorities to conduct an assessment of deteriorating roads in the North Bank and begin rehabilitation work, particularly along the Barra-Kerewan route and other critical feeder roads.
Mr. Saho called for improved drainage and flood-control measures, better road connections between farming communities and markets, and greater accountability for contractors responsible for road projects. He also urged the government to provide the public with clearer information about planned repairs and expected completion dates.
“The people of North Bank are not asking for a favor; they are asking for their fair share of national development,” he said.
Mr. Saho argued that road maintenance should be treated as an essential public service and an economic priority, rather than receiving attention only after routes have deteriorated to the point of becoming difficult or impossible to use.
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