Students of the University of The Gambia (UTG) on Monday protested at the Kanifing Campus, maintaining pressure on authorities to urgently address what they describe as “deteriorating conditions at the institution’s Faraba Campus.”
The demonstration comes amid growing frustration over persistent shortages of food and water, inadequate transportation services, poor sanitation facilities and unreliable internet connectivity, challenges students say have severely disrupted their academic life.
Many protesters carried placards bearing messages such as: “No Food at the Cafeteria, We Are Suffering, Enough is Enough”; “Stop Sidelining SMAHS, We Are Part of the University Community”; and “UTG-NSA Demands Clean Toilets and Reliable Water, Sanitation Is a Basic Right”, among others.
Despite assurances from government officials that steps were being taken to address the concerns, students remained resolute in their demonstration, insisting that previous promises had yielded little tangible improvement.
Following the protest, the students, through their Students’ Union President, Ismaila Fadera, presented a petition to the Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Professor Pierre Gomez, who visited the Kanifing Campus to engage with demonstrators and reaffirm the government's commitment to resolving the challenges confronting students.
Student leaders said some students often go from morning until evening without adequate meals, while others face difficulties attending lectures due to transportation constraints between campuses. They argued that the situation has reached a critical stage, with some students reportedly missing lectures and examinations as a result of the ongoing challenges.
Although government officials made last-minute commitments aimed at easing the crisis, including restoring catering services, improving access to water and internet facilities, and deploying 20 buses to strengthen transportation services, protesters maintained that assurances alone were no longer sufficient.
According to the students, weeks of complaints and appeals have failed to produce meaningful results, prompting their decision to continue the demonstration until concrete action is taken.
The continuing protest underscores growing concerns among the student body over living and learning conditions at the Faraba Campus, with demonstrators calling for the immediate implementation of promised interventions rather than further pledges.
As the protest continued at the Kanifing Campus, students reiterated their demand for urgent action to guarantee access to essential services and create a conducive environment for learning across the university’s campuses.
