As public outcries over the persistent power outage increase across the country, the National Assembly member for Banjul North, Modou Lamin B. Bah, has called on Gambia government through the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy to immediately act to stop public safety crisis in his constituency.
“The power cuts are not only unbearable, they are now creating direct security threats to the public. Theft has escalated to alarming levels, and residents say the situation is no longer acceptable. The Government, through the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, must act immediately.”
The National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) has recently said it is expecting the electricity supply to gradually return to normal by Mid-June 2026, an announcement that many Gambians attributed to system failure.
While the power outages have already caused extensive economic lost to many businesses especially during the past Tobaski, Bah’s outcry extends to public safety crisis and an obstacles for school-going childred who cannot read at nights due to blackouts.
“The consequences extend far beyond spoiled food. When the lights go out in Banjul and beyond, criminals move in. Residents across Banjul North and beyond report a sharp escalation in theft during blackout hours. Dark streets and disabled security systems have given thieves new confidence,” Bah lamented. “Students cannot study at night. Small businesses lose income by the hour. For a capital city, this level of service failure is untenable.”
In its May 30th 2026 update, NAWEC attributed the crisis to a sharp drop in power imports from the regional OMVG/WAPP network, combined with limitations in domestic generation capacity which form the backbone of the country’s supply.