By: Isatou Sarr
The Banjul City Council (BCC) has received three waste collection trucks and more than 200 solar-powered streetlights donated by its sister city, Nanning, in the People’s Republic of China, as part of efforts to improve sanitation and public lighting in the capital.
Speaking during the handing-over ceremony, Banjul Lord Mayor Rohey Malick Lowe expressed gratitude to the people and authorities of Nanning for what she described as a timely contribution to the city’s development agenda.
Mayor Lowe said the donation would significantly strengthen waste management services and enhance street lighting across communities in Banjul.
“Two hundred streetlights and three customised waste management vehicles will contribute immensely to the development of our city and support the empowerment of women and girls through small-scale businesses,” she said.
She added that BCC’s development initiatives extend beyond residents of the capital, noting that communities outside Banjul also benefit from the council’s interventions.
“Understanding that Banjul is the capital city, we lead and others follow,” the mayor stated.
Mayor Lowe further described China as an important development partner to The Gambia and called for stronger cooperation between the two countries.
Chinese Ambassador to The Gambia, Liu Jin, said Banjul and Nanning established sister-city relations nearly four decades ago and noted that the partnership has continued to yield positive results.
According to Ambassador Liu, the latest donation demonstrates the strong ties between the two cities and is expected to support ongoing efforts to improve cleanliness and security in the capital.
“The waste management trucks will support efforts to keep the city clean during the day, while the solar-powered streetlights will illuminate the city at night,” he said.
He expressed hope that cooperation between the two cities would continue to grow alongside broader relations between China and The Gambia.
The donation forms part of ongoing collaboration between Banjul and Nanning aimed at supporting urban development and improving public services in the Gambian capital.
