GTU Pledges Support to Address Transport Challenges for Students Commuting to UTG Faraba Campus

By Seedy Jobe

The president of the Gambia Transport Union (GTU), Omar Ceesay, has reaffirmed the union’s commitment to helping resolve transportation challenges faced by students traveling to the Faraba Banta Campus of the University of The Gambia.

The pledge followed a stakeholder meeting convened on Friday, March 13, 2026, by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science, and Technology (MoHERST) to discuss the growing transportation difficulties affecting students commuting to the Faraba Banta campus.

The meeting brought together representatives from the University of The Gambia Students’ Union, the Gambia Transport Union, Espace Motors, and Discovery Tours to explore practical solutions aimed at improving transportation services for students.

Participants shared perspectives and proposed measures to enhance transportation arrangements as part of MoHERST’s broader efforts to ensure students have reliable access to the campus and a more conducive learning environment.

Speaking in a telephone interview with Kerr Fatou, Mr. Ceesay welcomed the initiative, describing it as both a necessary intervention and a potential opportunity for the transport sector.

“We welcome the idea, and we also believe it presents another job opportunity for members of the transport sector,” he said. “We will work with the stakeholders to conduct an assessment and feasibility study to identify appropriate drop-off and pick-up points and coordinate the implementation of this initiative.”

Mr. Ceesay said the union is collaborating with MoHERST and other partners to identify practical solutions to the difficulties students encounter while traveling to and from the campus.

According to him, the ministry is also encouraging the participation of private transport operators to contribute ideas and solutions on how best to ensure students are transported to Faraba Banta on schedule.

“The ministry wants to open the doors to other private players to be inventive and discuss the modalities to ensure that students are transported to Faraba on time according to the schedule,” he said.

He added that the union plans to engage its members and transport operators along key urban routes, as well as larger bus owners, to participate in the initiative by providing transportation from designated locations to the campus.

“This is the first meeting we have held,” Mr. Ceesay said when asked about immediate solutions. “As a union, we will return to our executive team, conduct our assessments, and then come back with recommendations.”

Mr. Ceesay also commended the government for its commitment to improving access to higher education facilities, emphasizing the importance of strengthening transportation systems that support students.

“As a union, we call this an ownership transport system,” he said. “The government is committed to making transportation easier for everyone.”

He further noted that the union intends to strengthen collaboration with both public and private transport providers.

“The union is a national institution. All transport workers operate within our structure, including the Gambia Transport Service Company (GTSC), and we are working with all our partners,” he said.

Addressing students affected by the transportation difficulties, Mr. Ceesay expressed optimism that the initiative would yield positive results.

“This is a very good initiative, Inshallah. These students are our brothers, our sisters, and our families. We are aware of the challenges they are facing, and we will assist them,” he said. “We will continue to collaborate with all stakeholders to ensure efficient transportation throughout their academic journey.”

He added that improving transportation for students is a collective responsibility.

“These are the future leaders of the country. Anything we do for them, we do for ourselves,” Mr. Ceesay said. “We must work together as a team, as a country, to make things easier for them.”