Banjul, 16th June 2025: In a decisive move to strengthen national disaster preparedness, His Excellency Mohammed B.S. Jallow, Vice President of the Republic of The Gambia, on Thursday, 12 July, undertook a day-long tour of flood-prone communities in the Greater Banjul Area, Kanifing Municipality, and the West Coast Region. The visit comes ahead of the peak of the rainy season, which often brings flash floods and infrastructural strain to vulnerable communities.
The Vice President was accompanied by senior officials from the Office of the Vice President, Executive Director of the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), Mr. Sanna Dahaba, and key personnel from relevant government institutions tasked with environmental and infrastructural management. The mission was aimed at assessing the condition of known disaster hotspots, evaluating the effectiveness of ongoing mitigation projects, and gathering firsthand insights from affected communities.
The inspection tour kicked off in the heart of the capital, Banjul, where the delegation visited Grant Street, an area plagued by blocked water channels due to rampant and indiscriminate dumping of waste. Residents expressed concerns over the health and safety risks, calling for urgent intervention to improve drainage and waste management.
From there, the team proceeded to the Pump House at Bond Road, which serves as a key facility for pumping sewage water out of the city. VP Jallow and his entourage closely inspected the facility’s operations, emphasising the critical role it plays in urban flood management.
Another stop on the itinerary was Tesito Bridge at Tobacco Road, where construction works are ongoing to link existing water channels to the main Pump House. This project, once completed, is expected to significantly reduce water stagnation and mitigate flood risks in surrounding neighborhoods.
In New Jeshwang, the Vice President reviewed progress on drainage channel drilling initiatives designed to enhance water flow and reduce the likelihood of flash floods during heavy rainfall. In Ebo Town Swamp, the team assessed both environmental and human factors contributing to flood vulnerability, including poor housing conditions and encroachment on wetlands.
One of the major concerns raised during the visit was the obstruction of the WACA project at Kotu Stream due to unplanned and illegal settlements. The Vice President took note of the challenges facing the initiative and highlighted the importance of lawful urban planning and community engagement in executing national projects.
The visit concluded at the Jabang Water Retention Pond and Brikama Jambar Sanneh, where the team examined the state of natural and artificial drainage systems to ensure their functionality during the upcoming rains.
Speaking to the media at the end of the tour, Vice President Jallow stressed the urgency of collective responsibility and community participation in addressing flood risks.
“This visit is to understand the realities on the ground and address them before the rains. We urge people to refrain from indiscriminate dumping and work with local councils to manage waste responsibly. Together, we can tackle the challenge of flooding,” he stated.
The Vice President further reaffirmed the government’s commitment to disaster risk reduction, environmental sustainability, and the protection of lives and livelihoods. He called on stakeholders to play their part in building a more resilient Gambia.
The initiative underscores a broader strategy by the Government of The Gambia to shift from reactive disaster response to proactive prevention, particularly in the face of increasing climate-related threats.
By Abdou Mbye
