The Government of The Gambia has launched a major water supply project aimed at improving access to safe and reliable water in the Greater Banjul Area.

The initiative, supported by the French Development Agency (Agence Française de Développement – AFD), was officially inaugurated on Saturday in the coastal town of Sifoe.

The launch was presided over by President Adama Barrow and attended by senior government officials, development partners, and community members.

According to the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC), the Water Supply in the Greater Banjul Area (WASIB) project is a landmark step toward achieving national water security.

In a statement, NAWEC said:“This initiative will rehabilitate and construct new water storage tanks, replace outdated transfer pumps and control systems, and install modern bulk water meters. It also includes the drilling of 12 shallow and four deep boreholes within the Sand Aquifer, and the construction of a new 500-cubic-metre water treatment plant in Sifoe.

“The project will expand the transmission pipeline network, eliminate system bottlenecks, and establish a fully equipped Water Quality Laboratory. A centralised Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) centre will also be developed, along with the extension of water distribution mains across greenfield and brownfield areas, covering over 300 kilometres.”

Speaking ahead of the launch, NAWEC managing director Gallo Saidy described the project as “a bold step” towards the government’s goal of universal access to clean drinking water.

“Together with our development partners,” he said, “we are building a water infrastructure that will serve communities for generations to come.”

The project is being implemented by a consortium of contractors comprising RAZEL BEC, RAZEL Water Solutions, and SATELEC, under the technical supervision of Antea France, SGI Ingénierie, WATURA, and GAP Consultants.

Officials say the launch represents a significant milestone in modernising Gambia’s water sector and demonstrates the impact of international cooperation on national development goals.

By Adama Makasuba