#National News

GID inaugurates new Immigration Post in Abuko

Sep 19, 2023, 12:30 PM | Article By: Sheriff Janko

The Gambia Immigration Department (GID) last Friday inaugurated a new Immigration Post in Abuko.

The move was in line with GID strategy plan 2019-2024,which seeks to provide a conducive working environment for staff among a host of others. In addition, the new post, according officials, would greatly help the institution in pursuing the desired outcomes and general wellbeing of its services to the beneficiaries.

Welcoming the gathering, Sulayman Kujabi, Commissioner for Kanifing Municipality, reminded that GID is an institution that is mandated for the control of immigration into and residence in The Gambia; to regulate the manner and circumstances in which aliens or non Gambians may be naturalised as citizens of The Gambia and matters relating to citizens in The Gambia. 

"We cannot provide effective and efficient services to the citizenry without infrastructure that is conducive for staff to perform their mandate. Based on the said reasons, the GID leadership developed a strategy plan 2019 - 2024. The plan is an attempt to establish a systematic approach in pursuing the desired outcomes and general wellbeing of its services to the beneficiaries.

Also speaking, Commissioner Ebriama Mboob of GID, said the project, and many of its kind is part of the implementation process of GID’s SP 2019 to 2024 specifically on Goal 8, i.e. the construction and renovation of immigration offices.

This, he said, is among many testimonies that the Ministry of Interior is enhancing the implementation of the SSR agenda.

"Consequently, and by reason of the enduring commitment to meet the operational needs of the department, the GID has come up with plans to build a station here in order to smoothen and better its operations in the Kanifing Municipality,” he said.

The space where the Immigration’s new post is built, he disclosed, was provided by Gamtel.

Commissioner Mboob thus thanked Gamtel for their foresight in granting them the space to build a new Immigration post.

"We hold you dear as partners in nation-building. Without their enthusiasm, support and efforts, this project would not have been achieved so successfully. ”

He urged the communities around Abuko to ensure good partnership, collaboration and sustained security and safety for personnel in the area.

Kebba Nfally Darboe, Principal Secretary at the Ministry of the Interior, who represented the Minister, described the development as another milestone that will enable GID to expand its services, as people require their services throughout the country, particularly the municipal community.

Darboe expresed his Ministry's resolved commitment to ensure that democratic governance through technical guidance and advisory assistance, is sustained for efficient service delivery.

He argued that money can improve the physical environment of an institution, but it cannot buy the vision and passion that guide its development, which he said compels him to crave the indulgence of staff to exercise due diligence in their work.

The ceremony was graced by security chiefs, diplomatic corps, and stakeholders and staff of GID.