12/03/2025
The Chief's Diary: Leading Road Infrastructure Development: Transformation of SLRA
It's easier sometimes to focus solely on what isn't going well or leadership that needs to be changed. However, something I often notice is leadership that needs to be amplified and supported for more impactful delivery.
One such example is Ing Jalil Momodu, the Director General of the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA).
Mr. Momodu has spent 23 yrs at the Authority.
He started as an assistant engineer and then became an engineer, senior engineer, rose to Chief Regional Engineer, Chief Engineer, Director, before becoming the Deputy Director General. In 2023, President Bio recognized his service and dedication to the public sector and appointed him as Director General.
Since then, I have worked closely with Mr Momodu as he champions the road infrastructure development across the country. We have seen major progress of roads across the country, from Falaba to Pujehun. Township roads in Kenema and Pujehun.
In the last 18 months alone, under his leadership, we have completed 2 major bridges (Magbele & Mabang bridges), 2 minor bridges (Largo & Mogorvie bridges) and in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, have nearly completed the construction of 4 major bridges (Manowa, Tomparie, Gendema & Mattru) over hand-pulled ferry crossings.
We have added approximately 90km of paved roads to our stock of the National Road Network.
Major Road reconstruction works are on-going in all corners of the country - from the Kailahun - Koindu Road in the east, Falaba - Limbaya - Guinea Border Road in the north, the Tikonko - Kpetema Road in the South to the Makolo Jct. - Kobolo-Gulama (formerly Mabang) Bridge in the northwest. There is a range of ongoing road reconstruction works in the West as well.
Amongst several pipeline projects being prepared, the key to them are the Kambia - Marina Jct. Tomparie - Kamakwei Road (105km) and the Bauya - Benducha Road (65km), which will put Bonthe