The donated materials, which included wheelbarrows, spades, rakes, cutlasses, dustbins, and brushes were handed over to the governor of the region, Alhaji Ganyie Touray. Presenting the materials, NEA’s Administrative and Finance director, Bully Dibba, revealed that his institution secured them from the UNDP-funded project called ‘Environmental Enhancing in The Gambia’. The purpose of the donation, he explained, is to easily facilitate the monthly cleaning exercise in the region. He called on the people of the region to take up the monthly cleaning exercise seriously, saying  it would contribute immensely to the health of Gambians. 

On receiving the items on behalf of the governor, the chief executive officer of Janjangbureh Area Council, Babadinding K Jobarteh applauded the NEA for their efforts in keeping the country clean. Jobarteh spoke at length on the importance of the monthly cleaning exercise. “Operation clean the nation is a national exercise and everyone should participate in such nationwide exercise,” he said, and thanked the UNDP for funding the project. He assured them that the materials donated would be put into good use and properly managed.

The NEA regional programme officer, Fafanding K Kinteh called for attitudinal change and for people to internalise environmental issues. According to him, the provision of the materials to the region is part of the NEA’s waste management strategic objectives, a policy paper which was adopted in 1997. He then explained the importance of the materials to the community in relation to the monthly cleaning exercises.