Travellers Commend SLRA for Pothole Repairs on Bo-Taiama Road

Travellers plying the Bo-Taiama Highway have commended the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA) for what they described as a timely and sensitive intervention in filling potholes along the highway before Njala University’s 2025 Congregation Ceremonies. The Ceremonies were held on Friday, 19th and Saturday, 20th December 2025 at Njala Mokonde.

According to road users, the maintenance works greatly reduced the risk of road accidents during the two-day event, when traffic volume on the highway surged with graduands, parents, guardians, and well-wishers travelling to and from the ceremony venue.

The Congregation Ceremony featured the award of Diplomas and Certificates, as well as the conferral of Degrees and Postgraduate Diplomas.

The academic gathering attracted high-profile dignitaries, including the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr Haja Ramatulai Wurie, Chancellor of Njala University, Professor Sahr Moses Ngevao, and the Vice Chancellor and Principal, Professor Bashiru Mohamed Koroma.

Travellers recalled that several previous convocations at Njala Mokonde were marred by road traffic accidents, some of which claimed lives and left many others injured, including graduands and their relatives. Many of those incidents were attributed to indiscriminate potholes along the highway and excessive speeding by drivers and riders.

While welcoming the ongoing pothole repairs, motorists and motorcyclists were strongly cautioned to strictly observe prescribed highway speed limits and adhere to traffic regulations, as the Bo-Taiama Highway remains particularly busy during the convocation period.

The intervention by SLRA underscores its mandate as the primary institution responsible for the maintenance of major highways across Sierra Leone. Highway maintenance in the country is coordinated through the Sierra Leone Roads Authority, with funding support from the Road Maintenance Fund Administration (RMFA), which mobilises resources through fuel levies and vehicle license fees. Under the current allocation framework, about 70 per cent of the funds are directed to SLRA, while 20 per cent is disbursed to Local Councils for road upkeep.

Road users expressed hope that beyond the convocation period, sustained maintenance of the Bo-Taiama Highway will continue to enhance road safety and ensure smoother transportation for commuters and institutions along the corridor.