Gambia Closes Airport For 48 Hours

By Abdoulie John

Authorities in The Gambia announced Wednesday the closure of Banjul International Airport for 48 hours as major obstacles are preventing flights to continue.

Mai Ahmad Fatty, Special Adviser to President
Adama Barrow, told reporters that the situation prompted the Gambian leader to convene an emergency meeting at State House with a view to find lasting solutions to the danger posed by birds invasion at the country’s unique airport.

Last Tuesday, an Emergency Committee was set up by President Barrow. The said Committee is tasked with the responsibility to clean dumpsites and landfills within the vicinity of the airport.

Fatty said that the people living in neighbouring settlements will be sensitised on the need to stop littering. He then called out the Municipal and Area Councils to fulfill their primary responsibility in making sure that refuse collection is done regularly.

The Presidential Adviser went further to call for an attitudinal change, saying there can be no New Gambia with a New Gambian.

Alhagie Nyangado, who also spoke to journalists during State House’s presser, said a plane has an engine breakdown on the air carrier runway, compelling authorities to opt for the closure of air traffic.

The Director General of the Department of Strategic Policy and Delivery at Banjul International airport assured that efforts were being made to remove the aircraft and allow air traffic to resume.

Meanwhile, information gathered by this medium has it that flights continue to be diverted to neighbouring Senegal.

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