By Nelson Manneh
Transport Minister Ebrima Sillah over the weekend visited the ongoing Nuimi Hakalang Road Project in the North Bank Region to inspect progress and showcase what he described as a transformative development for isolated communities.
The 84.5 km road is split into three sections: the first, from Buniadu to Kuntaya (55.7 km), is fully completed; the second, from Albreda to Faas Omar Saho (15.14 km), is 76.22% complete; and the third, from Bangally to Bafuloto (13.71 km), is also finished.
Minister Sillah said the government’s commitment is evident on the ground. “People thought this project was a joke. Even when the foundation stone was laid, they said nothing would come of it. But now the road is real, and so is the impact,” he told reporters during the tour.
Residents confirmed this. Babucarr Ngum said communities once considered remote are now easily connected. “Before, a trip to Barra took over five hours. Now, we go to Banjul and return the same day,” he said.
Fatou Kamaso, a housewife from Bafuloto, recalled when pregnant women were taken to health centers on donkey carts. “Those days are over,” she said.
Minister Sillah added that the government’s vision extends beyond roads. “We are also pushing for electricity access along these roads. Urban facilities must be available in rural areas too.”
