This, he said, is part of his government's commitment to improving the road infrastructural development, thereby connecting communities and addressing the challenges of rural dwellers access good road network among others.
Officials said the roads will include three lots and will be constructed in three different sections in the Niani District of CRR North.
Barrow, who was speaking at a joint meeting held at Sami Pachonki village, said: "My administration will continue to prioritise addressing the challenges Gambians are encountering. Key among which will be road network, agriculture, health services, peace and security. “I am employed by you the people and therefore I will continue to work towards improving the lives of Gambian people," he said.
The government, he added, is currently studying the roads with a view to commencing work by 2025.
These major roads, he continued, will start from Jarmeh Koto and continue to Niamanar, Salikenni, Jarmeh Koto, Niani Kayai, Niani Sukuta, Barra Jally Touba, Barra Jally Tenda, Touba Mballow, Choya Kuta, Jantaba, Fula Kunda, Kuntaur unto Wassu, Fula Kunda, Jataba, Kayai and other areas.
Just like previous meetings, Barrow urged Gambians to maintain the country's peace and stability with a view to ensuring rapid microeconomic development for all.
He also calls on the youth of the country to grab the opportunities created by the government for their own growth and development.
On rice production, he said, the government will continue to partner with the private sector towards the realisation of the country's dream to end rice importation.
He also promised to build a health centre in Sami and Jataba Omar and also upgrade the Kuntaur Health Centre to provide quality health services to communities of the area.
He assured that the agriculture ministry and its technicians will conduct an assessment on the issue of poor harvest of groundnuts that have repeatedly been highlighted by farmers.
Visiting a TVET centre that is currently under construction at Wassu, the Gambian leader encouraged youth to learn skills and be self employed, while urging the contractors to ensure timely completion of the project.
In appreciating some of the developmental projects brought to their doorsteps by the government, ranging from electricity to water projects, inhabitants of the area still call on the government to do more, especially on roads that are connecting communities in the interior parts of the region, to provide clean and potable drinking water, build women gardens and other social projects.
The Chief of Sami District, Mam Demba Jallow, urged the president to help them by constructing a hospital each in Yallal Karantaba and Sami Omar Jula, adding: "These are communities that are a bit far from the health centres, and the road within the area is in bad condition."
Fanta Ceesay of Sami, thanked the government for providing them with electricity, saying: "The availability of electricity has served as a source of income for the community, especially we the women, as now we can make ice blocks and sell it."
She, however, urged the president to help them with a health centre and clean drinking water, further claiming: “Women who are in labour go all the way to Bansang Hospital if they have any complications."
Mariama Bah, Lady Councillor of the area, equally appealed for the construction of good roads in their communities.
The lady councillor added: "Just recently, a woman lost her life on her way to the health centre due to the condition of the road. She lost a lot of blood before reaching the hospital. This situation caused lot of complications which resulted in the loss of her life while in labour.”
She added: “We the residents of Niamina Mayo, go all the way to Kuntaur to access medical attention by either using horse or donkey cart because of the condition of the road.”
Saffie Kanteh a resident of Niani, said: “The entire Niani does not have a good road. Not only roads, but we also lack other basic amenities."
Responding to some of the concerns raised, Demba Sabally, the Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Food Security, said Sami and Niani all benefited from the fertilizer supply that was subsidised by the government.
The government, he claimed, provided a 30-hectare farm for the community of Niani Sukuta with rice and groundnut seeds and chemicals.
The communities of the area, Minister Sabally said, benefited from the GIRAV and ROOTS matching grants, saying GAFSP would provide them other agricultural projects with gardens, seeds and other materials.
“Government provided thirteen-thousand five hundred kilograms (13,500 kg) of rice seeds to Sami and Niani and one thousand four hundred and eighty-five (1, 485) bags of fertilizer were given to rice farmers at no cost," he said.
On poor groundnut harvest, Minister Sabally said they would examine the issue.
In his speech, the Minister of Local Government, Lands, and Religious Affairs, Amat N.K. Bah, advised youth to learn skills, saying: "Skills acquisition is key towards nation building. If you have skills, it will help you to be self employed."
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