Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – Moustapha Njie, Gambia’s leading real estate developer and Chief Executive Officer of TAF Africa Global Limited, has expressed outrage after discovering that rows of trees planted by his company more than two decades ago in Brufut Gardens were cut down by the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC).
In a statement shared from Algeria, where he is attending the Intra-African Trade Fair 2025, Njie described waking up to “saddening” images of the destruction.
The trees, spanning 1.7 kilometers, had been planted by TAF Africa Global as part of its long-standing environmental initiatives.
“I was told NAWEC is responsible, likely because the trees were growing too tall and posed a threat to the high-tension lines above. We have always taken it upon ourselves to trim them properly whenever a concern was raised. It never happened this time, and I hope someone takes responsibility for this,” he lamented.
Njie, widely known as a strong advocate of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, stressed that the indiscriminate felling undermines years of deliberate environmental work. He noted that his company has a clear policy of planting ten trees for every house it builds across the continent.
“Just yesterday, I spoke on a panel in Algeria on the theme Urban Infrastructure: Building Africa’s Cities of the Future, highlighting our environmental commitment. To wake up to this news the following morning is heartbreaking,” he said.
Njie further expressed frustration over the lack of consultation, emphasizing that TAF Africa Global and NAWEC have a joint WhatsApp communication channel specifically to address such concerns.
“All that was needed was a simple consultation. We even have a dedicated WhatsApp group between NAWEC and TAF Africa Global for better communication, as we are the biggest developer in The Gambia. I am just lost for words and deeply saddened, while hoping this will never happen again,” he added.
The incident is likely to ignite wider debate over environmental management and coordination between state utilities and private developers in The Gambia, especially as climate change and green urban planning rise higher on the national agenda.
