He underscored that “we have requested for 200,000 houses in the next 10 years thus, we are starting with 10,000 houses.”
He said that “the president and his government believe that giving people piece of land who do not have the means of survival is not a solution to our housing problems,” adding this government wants to have a change of policy. “We want to build affordable houses for Gambians.”
The minister further dilated that in 2010, the Technical Department under his Ministry was instructed to initiate land banking within the state lands of the West Coast Region.
“By 2011 land was identified in certain settlements for a proposed housing scheme for civil servants,” he revealed.
“The identified reserve lands for the residential purposes within the Greater Banjul Area are located at Old Yundum, Yunna, Jamburr, Mamuda. However, recent inspection indicates sporadic development and encroachment on this reserve lands,” he added.
He also stated that “the president tasked me and my ministry to make sure that we have that successful housing scheme that will benefit the Gambian people.”
“And as a result of my engagement with Shelter Afrique Band, they are due here on the 24th of this month. The UN Habitat are also due here next week and the BADEA Bank is waiting for our invitation from our finance minister as they want to hold their AGM in The Gambia,” he revealed.
“There is no policy on reserve lands for more than 50 years and we are determined that by April 2025, a policy will be rolled out and the World Bank is on board to support.”
He disclosed that last week he instituted two committees to investigate all those reserve land issues and report to government “and we will take the appropriate measures to make sure we address these issues,” he assured.
He added that “I have also tasked the departments through Permanent Secretaries and Directors to
