National Assembly Member for Banjul North, Modou Lamin Bah, has raised concern over the ongoing electricity blackouts affecting Banjul and surrounding communities, warning that the situation is now creating public safety risks and worsening insecurity in urban areas.

Speaking on the growing frustrations among residents, the lawmaker said the frequent power outages have moved beyond a basic service delivery issue and are now directly affecting livelihoods, safety, and public order in his constituency and other parts of the capital.

He was quoted as saying: “These blackouts are no longer just an inconvenience. They are affecting people’s safety, their businesses, and the overall stability of our communities. We are seeing increasing reports of theft and insecurity during these periods of darkness.”

He added that communities are increasingly living in fear during blackout hours, with reports of theft and break-ins becoming more common in areas left without electricity for long periods.

According to him, the absence of stable power supply is weakening street lighting, disrupting surveillance systems, and creating opportunities for criminal activity.

Modou Lamin Bah further noted that households are suffering repeated losses as food stored in refrigerators spoils during prolonged outages, while students struggle to study at night and small businesses continue to lose income due to interrupted operations.

He called on the relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Petroleum, Energy and Mines and NAWEC, to urgently step up measures to stabilise electricity supply, describing the situation as a growing national concern.

The Banjul North MP stressed that while long-term energy projects remain important, immediate action is needed to protect citizens and restore confidence in basic public services.

He urged government to treat the situation with urgency, warning that continued instability in power supply could deepen both economic hardship and insecurity in the capital.

By Adama Makasuba