PEOPLE OF SAMI DISTRICT COMMEND GOVERNMENT ON LAMIN KOTO–PASSAMAS ROAD CONSTRUCTION

By Seedy Jallow CRR Correspondent for GRTV

On September 14th, Global Radio and TV regional correspondent visited the Lamin Koto–Passamas Road to gather residents' views and recommendations on improving public transportation in the area.

Speaking to GRTV, Gibbi Dem, the Alkalo of Koli Kunda village, highlighted that the constructed road Lamin Koto to Passamace has transformed daily life across local communities by easing the movement of people, goods, and services.
"We are proud of the government for its continued commitment to infrastructure development and to improving the lives of the Gambian people," he stated.

Marie Jarra, a native of Changai Toro village, expressed similar sentiments, reflecting on the stark contrast between life before and after the road was paved.

Before the construction of the paved highway, the 122-kilometer Lamin Koto–Passamas stretch was a dusty, heavily rutted dirt track that turned into an impassable mud trap during the rainy season. Traveling from Lamin Koto to Basse, or from Kai Hai to Bansang, was an exhausting ordeal. Commuters frequently spent over four hours waiting on the roadside just to find a vehicle, and a journey that now takes minutes could consume an entire day. Commercial transport was scarce, vehicle breakdowns were constant, and emergency trips to regional health facilities carried serious risks for critical patients.

A Modern Lifeline begins after the construction of the road the asphalt highway has eliminated those long delays and hazardous conditions. Commuting across Sami District is fast, safe, and reliable. Commercial vehicles and public transport options are readily available throughout the day, enabling farmers to bring produce to market quickly, businesses to grow, and residents to access healthcare and schools without delay.

Concluding her remarks, Marie Jarra appealed to the Government of The Gambia—particularly the Gambia Transport Service Company (GTSC) to deploy more buses to the rural provinces and expand their service routes to support the rapidly growing number of daily commuters.