Banjul Mayor calls for justice over sand mining royalties, environmental protection
By Mutiu Olawuyi
Banjul Mayor Rohey Malick-Lowe has called on residents and supporters of the capital to join a planned action demanding the payment of royalties and stronger environmental protection in connection with sand mining activities near Denton Bridge.
In a public message titled “Justice for Banjul!”, Mayor Malick-Lowe said the issue concerns both the financial rights of the capital and the protection of its environment.
“Pay us our royalties and protect our environment,” she declared.
According to the mayor, the interview process has been completed and she is awaiting a permit for the planned gathering.
The action is scheduled for Thursday, August 27, at 10 a.m., at Sino Majilac Sand Mining Company, opposite GPMB, near Denton Bridge.
“Come out in your numbers and support your capital,” Mayor Malick-Lowe urged.
The planned action places renewed public attention on questions of local revenue, environmental accountability and the responsibility of companies operating in or around communities. For Banjul, the demand for royalties is not only a financial claim. It speaks to a broader concern about whether communities affected by commercial activity receive fair benefit from resources extracted in their environment.
The mayor’s message also raises an important environmental issue. Sand mining, when poorly regulated or insufficiently monitored, can contribute to erosion, coastal vulnerability, habitat disruption and long-term damage to surrounding communities. In a low-lying capital such as Banjul, environmental protection is not a secondary matter; it is central to public safety, urban resilience and future survival.
The call for support therefore reflects a larger question of local governance: how should communities be compensated, consulted and protected when economic activities affect their land, coastline and environment?
For residents, the demand is simple. If companies profit from activities connected to Banjul’s environment, the capital should not be left with only the risks while others enjoy the gains.
At the same time, the mayor’s statement suggests that the planned action will follow a lawful process, with the permit still being awaited. That is important because public protest, when peaceful and properly organized, is a democratic tool for accountability and civic participation.
The issue now requires responsible engagement from all sides: the Banjul City Council, national authorities, the company, environmental regulators and concerned citizens. The goal should not be confrontation for its own sake, but a fair resolution that protects public funds, safeguards the environment and respects the rights of the community.
As the planned date approaches, residents will be watching whether the authorities respond with openness and whether the company addresses the concerns raised by the city leadership.
For Banjul, the message from the mayor is clear: development must not come at the expense of the capital’s rights, revenue or environment.
