The Mayor of Makeni City Council, Abu Bakarr Kamara, has outlined pressing challenges facing Makeni and called on government to prioritize urgent infrastructural, health, and revenue issues. He made this appeal on Tuesday, 16th September 2025, during the Makeni Civic Day organized by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education (MoICE) at the University of Makeni (UNIMAK).

In his address, Mayor Kamara emphasized that infrastructural decay remains one of the biggest setbacks in the city.

He specifically highlighted Makama Road, which leads to the Makeni Government Hospital and serves four surrounding districts, but is now in a deplorable state. He warned that the poor condition of the road puts motorists, bike riders, and pedestrians at serious risk.

He also drew attention to a collapsed bridge linking Makeni to Sanda, a route that connects over 200 villages that supply farm produce to the city and beyond.

“This community is vital for food security and economic development. We plead with the government to urgently fix this bridge,” the Mayor appealed.

Turning to healthcare, Mayor Abubakarr Kamara raised concerns over the limited access to free medical supplies reaching the intended beneficiaries. He cited maternal health challenges in the past three months, stressing that the government’s intervention is urgently needed to restore confidence in the free healthcare system.

On revenue mobilization, the mayor lamented the heavy dependence of councils on central government subsidies, which are often delayed. He noted that devolved departments such as agriculture, health, and education cannot operate effectively without timely funding, making it difficult for councils to deliver basic services. He urged government to recognize councils as key players in achieving the President’s “Big 5 Game Changers.”

Waste management, according to the mayor, is another growing challenge due to Makeni’s rapidly increasing population, driven largely by the establishment of higher education institutions in the city.

While acknowledging progress in the provision of electricity, Mayor Kamara commended both the past and present governments for their contributions. He also expressed appreciation to President Julius Maada Bio for releasing political detainees, while appealing for reconciliation with former President Ernest Bai Koroma.

“Ernest Bai Koroma is a brother and a statesman who has served this country. I use this platform to humbly ask President Bio to consider reconciliation in the spirit of national unity,” he said.

The Mayor concluded by affirming his commitment to the Tripartite Committee’s recommendations, describing them as a pathway to electoral justice, peace, and national cohesion.