We clean drains, pump water and undertake emergency interventions. Yet the rains return—and so does the flooding.
This cycle must end.
Banjul’s flooding should no longer be regarded simply as a seasonal sanitation or municipal problem. It is a national climate-resilience, infrastructure, economic and urban-planning challenge.
Banjul is particularly vulnerable because it is a low-lying coastal city. Climate change, rising sea levels, increasingly intense rainfall, high tides, inadequate drainage and coastal pressures compound its vulnerability.
Moreover, Banjul is not just another municipality. It is our national capital, the seat of government and home to the Port of Banjul—our principal maritime gateway. Protecting Banjul therefore means protecting strategic national assets and economic activity.
Mr President, it is time to move from emergency response to permanent engineering solutions.
Few countries understand water management better than the Netherlands. Much of that country is low-lying, and the Dutch have accumulated generations of expertise in drainage, pumping systems, dikes, storm-surge barriers, water retention and integrated urban water management.
The Government should therefore formally approach the Netherlands for a strategic partnership to develop a Banjul Climate Resilience and Integrated Water Management Master Plan with a 50-to-100-year planning horizon.
The objective should not simply be constructing more gutters.
We require a comprehensive engineering solution incorporating detailed flood-risk and elevation mapping; redesigned primary and secondary drainage networks; strategically located pumping stations; retention ponds and stormwater reservoirs; tidal gates preventing seawater from entering drainage systems; coastal protection; restoration of mangroves and wetlands; climate-resilient roads; and protection of the Port of Banjul.
Most importantly, when exceptional rainfall occurs, the water must have somewhere to go.
Government should establish a Presidential Banjul Climate Resilience and Flood Protection Initiative, bringing together relevant ministries, Banjul City Council, Kanifing Municipal Council, GPA, NAWEC, NDMA, NEA, Gambian engineers, universities and affected communities.
The Netherlands should be invited as a principal technical partner, while financing could be explored with the World Bank, African Development Bank, European Union, Green Climate Fund and other climate-finance institutions.
Fortunately, The Gambia is not starting from zero. Considerable technical work on coastal and flood risks in Greater Banjul has already been undertaken with international development partners. The priority now must be converting studies into bankable projects, financing and physical infrastructure.
Maintenance must equally become institutional rather than seasonal. Drains, pumps, retention facilities and coastal defences require dedicated budgets, trained personnel and clearly assigned responsibility.
Mr President, another rainy season will come. Climate change will continue. Sea levels will not wait for government planning cycles.
Let us therefore invite Dutch expertise, mobilise international climate financing and build a solution capable of protecting Banjul for generations.
The floods may be seasonal. Our solution must be permanent.
Good day!