Nigerians in The Gambia Celebrates Golden Jubilee @ 50 Year of Independent

Banjul, Gambia - Nigerians resident in the Gambia on Friday joined their compatriots around the world to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of their country's independence.

Ms Esther John Audu, the Nigerian High Commissioner in The Gambia, in a speech described the day as 'very significant' in that it reminds Nigerians of when the y were left to stand on their own as a nation. She said: 'It was a challenge ... since then, we have been going through our kind of turbulence, teething problems and all that, and today we are where we are.'

The chief Nigerian diplomat in The Gambia highlighted the numerous achievements registered by her country over the past half a century.

Ms Audu said the Federal Government of Nigeria had achieved tremendous socio-economic and political developments and advancement over the past 50 years, underscoring that improvements had been made in many sectors like health, education, inf r astructure and agriculture among others.

'The type of roads we had at that time is not what we have today. Most of the roads that are being built today are dual carriage roads. I was a witness to the building of the Murtala Muhammed Bridge and the third Mainland Bridge. These are infrastructures that were never there before,' she said.

The High Commissioner also enumerated gains in the economic sector indicating that the country produces and manufactures items that are needed by her citizens.

She said The Gambia had remained one of Nigeria's closest allies in the sub-region and this was reflected by the high level of contact between the two countries.

She added that over the years business and investment activities have increased considerably between the two countries and these have contributed to better understanding between Banjul and Abuja.