The project is contracted to Tumbulu and Sons Company Limited and is set to last to a maximum of 90 days.
The occasion was held on Tuesday 6 January, 2026 at the Bakoteh Fish Market and Ice Plant ground bringing together various stakeholders and market vendors.
The project is a significant milestone and a testament to KMM/KMC collective efforts towards sustainable development and infrastructure improvement within the Municipality.
Further, the project expansion is set to create a wider space for market vendors with a conducive and a safe environment where they will peacefully continue with their day-to-day business.
In his key note address, Mayor Bensouda applauded the management of the Kanifing Municipal Market for taking ownership of the market with their approach to the KMC by working hand-in-hand in bringing such development for the market vendors.
He said that managing a market needs patience and commitment to be able to effectively work with vendors, particularly women, saying that women always want to deal with easy-going personnel who can respond to their needs with concern and care.
However, he emphasised that it would be difficult to drive away vendors from their current sales place without providing them a proper relocation where they can comfortably do their sales.
Emphasising on the bad condition of the current Ice Plant of the Bakoteh Fish Market, Mayor Bensouda urged the management of the Bakoteh Municipal Market to seek best ways of maintenance of the current Ice Plant, or look for ways to possibly buy a new Ice Plant. “There are possible ways to buy a new Ice Plant,” he stated.
In an interview with The Point, Nfamara Jarju, general manager of the Kanifing Municipal Market highlighted the significance of the project, saying that the project would take them a long way in terms of development and providing a wider and conducive space for market vendors, especially women.
According to him, to combat overcrowding of women vendors along the public highway around the market entrance, the expansion and backfilling project is a necessity.
“You cannot ask the women not to sell on the road when you don’t provide them an alternative space to occupy. So this is why we are trying to create for them a space through this project expansion. Then, they will not have any excuse after this expansion,” he explained.
“We really appreciate the efforts of Mayor Benouda and his team for technically and financially supporting us in the whole process,” he said.
