By Assan Bah
‘Tanji Youth in Solidarity for Development’, in collaboration with the Tanji Village Development Committee, recently embarked on a road rehabilitation exercise ahead of the rainy season.
Momodou S. Jallow, a youth mobiliser of the village, said the initiative is in response to ‘decades of road negligence.’
“For decades, this road has been neglected and left in disrepair, despite being a vital route for daily activities like accessing the beach, commuting to work, or connecting with other essential areas within and outside the community,” he explained.
Jallow said that to remedy these challenges, the youth of Tanji in the diaspora and the VDC came together with members of the community to put some gravel on these roads.
“We know this will not permanently address the challenges we face during the rainy season, but it will somehow reduce it. These roads are disastrous during the summer because some of the areas are hardly reachable for business persons, students, and locals during the rains. Despite several efforts to lobby for the construction of the road from the government, local council, and the National Assembly Member for the area, they only received unfulfilled promises.
“Now, we are not waiting for the government because they have neglected us for a long time, and they will only give us promises when it is election time,’’ Jallow said.
He vowed that the community would not relent until the road network challenge is addressed within Tanji.
“Good roads are not a luxury but a necessity for a sustainable future. Poor infrastructure limits access to workplaces, disrupts local businesses and discourages potential investors,’’ he said.
The rehabilitation process also saw the cleansing of the gutters along the Tanji garage and the filling of potholes.
“Filling potholes and improving road access is more than just a repair job. It is a solution to the daily challenges faced by commuters, villagers, and visitors alike,’’ Jallow said, calling on the government and all the relevant authorities to support their efforts toward providing durable roads for Tanji.
“Together and with collaboration from both the community and the authorities, we can pave the way for a brighter and safer future for all,’’ Jallow concludes.
