Gambiaj.com – (Banjul, the Gambia)- The Managing Director of the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC), Gallo saidy, has admitted that Gambians continue to endure power cuts and water shortages but insists the utility provider is moving in the right direction.
Speaking on Coffee Time with Peter Gomez on Tuesday, Mr. Saidy said: “NAWEC is moving incrementally on a positive path. Our goal is to provide electricity that is stable, reliable, and sustainable. But you cannot fix these problems overnight, it requires collective effort from NAWEC, government, and the people.”He revealed that in the past month alone, 15 of NAWEC’s boreholes had been sabotaged. “We have some instrumentation in our boreholes. People go in and steal gadgets and cables. In some cases, they cut them and just leave them there. That’s why I call it sabotage,” he said. Saidy dismissed suggestions that NAWEC should simply place security at all boreholes, pointing out that most of the 80-plus facilities are in remote areas. “Some are so deep in the bush you cannot even drive there during the rainy season. These are national assets, and we need the public to help us protect them.”
The NAWEC MD also highlighted financial and capacity challenges. “Nearly 80 percent of our procurements are in foreign exchange. With the dalasi depreciating and tariffs stagnant, it creates a gap. Government is helping us survive without increasing tariffs, but that is a continuous challenge,” he explained. He admitted that several projects meant to expand supply have been delayed due to shipping problems, manufacturing setbacks, and human failings. “Some of it is incompetence, on both sides, from those managing the projects and those delivering them. That’s just the reality.”
On human resources, Saidy said NAWEC and the country at large need more practical training: “The paper is just a paper. It’s what you do with it that matters. We need people who can solve problems hands-on, not just collect certificates.”
Pressed about the daily frustrations of Gambians, MD insisted improvements are on the way. “I can assure you that by the end of 2025, 90 percent of this country will have access to electricity. Within the next two years, most of these problems will be history.” But he acknowledged the widespread criticism NAWEC faces. “The noise out there, the criticisms, that’s just human nature. It is what’s not nice that makes news. But we are doing very, very well, and we are going to own the narrative soon,” he declared.
Asked why he accepted the role at a time when NAWEC was synonymous with failure, Saidy said: “I didn’t apply for the job. The President trusted me. I probably would have been doing much better where I was. But at the end of the day, it’s about making a difference in people’s lives. It’s not the money, it’s about adding value.” Despite admitting that the job has given him “extra grey hairs,” Saidy remains firm: “We are on a path that is going to make a difference in the lives of Gambians. NAWEC belongs to all of us, and if we all work together, we can make it one of the best utilities in the sub-region.”
