After years of advocacy by the Gambia Drivers Union, government yesterday announced that the new driver’s license to be rolled out from today Wednesday will have a three-year validity as opposed to one year.

In a statement the Ministry of Interior however disclosed that the fee for the new license is D2,550.

Enrolment for the new license will start in Banjul and Kanifing from Wednesday, Birkama from 12 October, Soma and Farafenni from 19 October, Janjangbureh and Basse from 22 October.

According to the Ministry, the gradual rolling out is “designed to ensure an orderly implementation, allowing the authorities to monitor system performance, address operational or technical issues, and provide the necessary support as the system is progressively deployed nationwide”.

It encouraged the public to take note of the rollout schedule and cooperate with the relevant authorities.

The Transport Union welcomed the new policy saying is it aligned with its longstanding advocacy for compliance with the law and the protection of the interests of drivers and workers in the road transport sector.

“This move demonstrates the importance of ensuring that administrative practices are consistent with the laws of The Gambia, and we wish to thank all stakeholders who have contributed to bringing this longstanding matter to the implementation stage,” the Union said.