UTG Students Stranded in Rain as Faraba Campus Transport Crisis Persists

By Sukai Fatajo

Students at the University of The Gambia’s Faraba campus were left exposed to rain on Thursday evening while waiting for university buses, the latest incident in an ongoing transport problem that has persisted on the campus.

The incident occurred at about 5 p.m. at the Faraba bus station as students prepared to leave campus after lectures. Students said the bus stop has never had a covered shelter, despite earlier reports raising concerns about transport conditions at Faraba.

Campus Reporter reported that Faraba-bound students feared transport struggles as the new semester began, raising concerns now echoed in Thursday’s incident.

Madeline Sylva, a newly admitted first-semester student, said students asked bus drivers to let them board early for shelter, but the requests were ignored. She said the rain soaked her laptop and books, voicing concern about the health effects of remaining in wet clothes.

Ida Drammeh, a second-year Journalism student, said the rain made her commute home uncomfortable. “I got really wet while queuing for the bus to go home,” she said, adding that she worried about becoming sick afterwards.

Abdallah Dampha, Technical and Logistics Minister of the Social Sciences and Humanities Students’ Association (SoSHSA), acknowledged the students’ challenge and apologised to the students. 

Mr Dampha said the situation could’ve been avoided if the Student Union were not engaged in the Students Week activities. 

“I am convinced that the chaotic situation we faced at Faraba during today’s rain could have been avoided if authorised leadership had been present to help coordinate students and de-escalate tension,” Dampha said, adding that frustrations naturally run high in such situations.

He said the core of the problem traced back to two issues: “the lack of bus stop canopies, a problem the University of The Gambia Management is well aware of; and second, the reluctance of some students to temporarily seek shelter in nearby school buildings until the rain settles.”

“Moving forward, we recommend that the Students’ Union, through its Technical and Logistics Ministry, establish a foundational understanding between students and drivers. Drivers should not hesitate to let students board the buses quickly when it begins to rain,” he said.

He also renewed a call for clarity from university authorities: “Is there an official policy or instruction that prevents students from boarding the buses before their scheduled departure time? Even when it is not raining, the total lack of canopies at the bus stop leaves students exposed to the elements. This severely affects everyone, particularly those with underlying health conditions.”

Ms Sylva called on the university to install covered shelters at the bus station to protect students and their belongings.

Campus Reporter contacted the UTG Students’ Union for comment but had not received a response yet.

Iretomiwa Dele-Yusuff

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