By Saidu Jalloh, Staff Reporter
Pujehun District President Julius Maada Bio on Saturday commissioned a cluster of major infrastructure projects in Pujehun, including the 25km Bandajuma–Pujehun Road and the newly named Julius Maada Bio Bridge, while breaking ground for the Pujehun–Gbondapi Road that officials say will anchor the government’s Feed Salone food security programme.
The ceremony, held in Kpanga Krim Chiefdom on April 25, also saw the unveiling of the Gobaru Monument, which authorities described as a symbol of urban renewal and civic pride in the district headquarters.
Addressing residents, President Bio framed the projects as “pathways to dignity” that would expand access to healthcare, education and markets. “For years, Pujehun endured historical neglect. It is unacceptable for a district capital to lack a paved road,” he said. Travel time between Bo and Pujehun, once measured in several hours, has now been cut to roughly one hour, he added.
The President announced plans for a hybrid power solution for Pujehun, combining solar and thermal generation, alongside ongoing work to extend distribution lines and install new generators. He further pledged to push the Pujehun–Gbondapi Road to completion, citing its role in opening farming communities to commercial markets under Feed Salone.
Chief Minister Dr. David Moinina Sengeh said the completed road network had eased long-standing transport bottlenecks. He cited 41km of new feeder roads, 10,000 hectares of cultivated crops, and 13,000 bags of locally grown rice consumed in the district as early dividends of the Feed Salone rollout. The health sector, he noted, had added 200 personnel and four new peripheral health units, with a 100-bed hospital under construction.
Minister of Works and Public Assets Dr. Denis Sandy said the President had ordered accelerated delivery of all outstanding road and bridge works nationwide, asserting that the current administration had built more such infrastructure than any previous government.
First Lady Dr. Fatima Maada Bio recalled the difficulty of reaching Pujehun in past years, saying the new roads had transformed mobility and daily life for residents.
Sierra Leone Roads Authority Director General Ing. Alfred Jalil Momodu called the simultaneous delivery of three major road projects in one district “unprecedented.” Over the past six years, he said, 140km of roads and eight bridges have been completed in Pujehun. He described the Julius Maada Bio Bridge as a structure that had been “overdue for more than 90 years.”
Pujehun District Council Chairman Foday Rogers said improved connectivity had already lifted trade and school attendance, while political leader Hon. Sidi Mohamed Tunis praised the appointment of Pujehun indigenes to key government posts and called the projects historic given national resource constraints.
President Bio commended contractor First Tricon Limited for executing the works and appealed for national unity ahead of the 2028 elections.
The commissioning of the Bandajuma–Pujehun Road, the bridge, and the Gobaru Monument marks a turning point for the district, officials said, signaling stronger links to regional markets and a renewed sense of civic identity.
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