By Assan Bah
In September 2020, the Gambian government laid the foundation stone for the construction of the 86-kilometre Niumi – Hakalang road, aimed at alleviating the longstanding struggles of the people of Niumi. This vital infrastructure project, designed to connect Niumi to Jokadou District, was initially slated for completion within 26 months. However, a recent visit by Foroyaa in September 2024 revealed that asphalting had only progressed as far as Sika, from Bunaidu.
According to President Barrow’s launch statement, the road project was divided into three components: Buniadou—Kuntaya, covering approximately 57 km; Kerr Mbuguma or Bangally—Bafuloto, covering about 14 km; and Fass Omar Saho—Albereda, covering 15 km. Despite this ambitious plan, progress in several project areas has been disappointingly slow, raising questions about the quality of work being done.
The contractor for this project is CSE, while PACE/GAMECS JV serves as the consultant, with the total cost estimated at 1.2 billion Dalasi. Speaking to residents from the beneficiary communities, dissatisfaction regarding the project’s slow pace was a common theme. Many locals expressed their frustrations and urged both the contractors and the government to expedite the work.
Omar Ceesay, a resident of Chila–Jurunku in the Upper Niumi District, expressed his concerns, saying: “To be honest, we are not happy with the slow pace of the work because we heard the president saying the work would be completed in less than two years. But we are now in 2024, and it started in 2020.”
He remained hopeful that once completed, the road would meet the expected standards. He added: “What we have seen so far gives us the impression that it will be a standard road, but it is very slow, and we don’t know the causes of the delay.”
The current condition of the road poses numerous challenges for the residents. Ceesay noted, “Even using the road is sometimes a problem, particularly during the rainy season due to countless potholes caused by the ongoing works and slipperiness.” He added that the flooding experienced in their village was unprecedented and caused significant damage.
“Just recently, water flooded into one of our neighbours’ homes, resulting in serious injuries while trying to create temporary waterways. We would appreciate it if proper gutters could be constructed,” he said.
Omar Njie, another local, attributed the sluggish pace of the project to inadequate supervision. “I believe if you assign someone a task, it is important to supervise them to ensure they execute their work properly. But we have neither seen the minister responsible nor his officials coming here to supervise the contractors.”
Njie observed that the contractors only seem to increase their efforts when they know the President is visiting. “When they know that the President is about to tour the area, they will be busy working, but once that passes, we will no longer see them. You can be here for one or two weeks without seeing their vehicles.”
His frustrations were echoed by Lamin Camara from Sami Kuta, who stated, “We are happy that the road is being constructed here because we have struggled for a long time to have a good road. However, it is taking too long to complete. We would appreciate it if it could be finished as soon as possible.” While he acknowledged that the project has eased some travel difficulties to Barra, he still voiced concerns about flooding in his compound due to the absence of proper drainage.
Ousman Ceesay from Pakau Saloum noted, “After a while, we have seen workers coming, but they usually don’t come during the peak of the rainy season.” He lamented the flooding issues that arise, especially as his compound is located along the highway.
Modou Jange, a native of Medina Sering Mass, described the project as having caused multiple issues for residents, including dust and access problems when construction is ongoing. “We have not yet seen the benefits of this project. We were told it was supposed to last for two years, but it has been four years since it started, and we have not seen any asphalt on the roads, meaning we still have a long way to go.”
He placed the blame for the delay squarely on the government. “We cannot blame the workers because they are contracted by the government, so the government should be held responsible for the delay of the work.”
Mrs. Marget Gaye, also a resident of Medina Sering Mass, stated, “Since the start of the construction, I can say we have not seen any benefit from it.” She highlighted ongoing mobility challenges, particularly during the rainy season, when construction workers seem to do little on-site.
“They have missed coming here. At times, they come with their trucks but only to do little work or sometimes just pour water and leave,” she said.
Gaye expressed her frustration with the dust from the construction, urging authorities to expedite the project’s completion. “We have been experiencing this dust for over four years, and we don’t know when it will end.”
Another local, Babou Njie from Fass Omar Saho, shared similar sentiments, noting that the road becomes “unusable” when it rains. “The president once passed here, and they said he was inspecting the road construction, but he was not shown everything, which I believe should not have been the case.”
When approached for insight into the reasons for the slow pace of the project, a senior member of the contracting team mentioned that delays in government payments hinder their ability to procure materials like basalt.
In an exclusive interview with the Minister of Transport, Works and Infrastructure, Ebrima Sillah, he acknowledged that despite the initial 26-month timeline for the project, significant delays occurred, partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Majority of the road construction materials are imported and the outbreak disrupted the supply chain, particularly for essential materials like basalt, bitumen, and kerosene. In addition, many workers stayed home, contributing to delays.”
Sillah explained that financing priorities shifted due to the pandemic, causing some infrastructural projects to face financial difficulties. He noted that the project, which began after the 2021 presidential elections, required a redesign of its scope. “When I was appointed as Minister of Works, the project was not more than 20%, so we had to develop a new work plan. We redefined the scope and took into consideration the remobilization of the contractor and all necessary materials.”
The minister revealed that the initial plan was for double surface dressing, but after a reengineering study, it was decided that parts of the road with high water tables would be upgraded to asphalt for durability. “Right now, we are at kilometer 36 for asphalting, and we are hopeful that by the end of December or the first or second week of January, the main loop will be completely asphalted.”
Sillah stated that sections two and three, which include Bangally to Bafuloto and Fass Omar Saho to Albereda, are on track to be finished by the end of March or April next year. “The road is 100% funded by the Gambian government from the Local Government Fund. Locally funded projects often face challenges due to competition with other government priorities, especially in education, health, youth, and women.”
Regarding the project’s budget, the minister could not provide an exact figure, acknowledging that due to the change in scope, costs would exceed the initial budget. “The budgets for different sections, including Buniadou-Kuntaya, Albereda-Fass Omar Saho, and Bangally-Bafuloto, vary.”
During Foroyaa’s visit to the project sites, residents expressed concerns over flooding in their homes due to lack of mapped-out waterways. Sillah acknowledged the drainage issues, noting that an assessment had identified problems, particularly during the rainy season in Sika, but stated that measures have been taken to address these issues.
The Minister had previously expressed optimism about completing the road by May or June 2023; however, he acknowledged that delays in meeting contractual obligations and processing payments have been addressed. “Now that all these issues have been addressed, the contractor is working efficiently to complete the road within the specified timeframe. Challenges in mobilizing essential resources, such as laterite in Niumi, were also factors that required adjustments to the project.”
The Minister concluded, “The government is on course to inaugurate the road in March 2025, and we recognize and accept that it has been long overdue. The contractor has spent more than two extra years on the road for several reasons.”
