President Adama Barrow is expected to inspect National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) facilities in Brikama and Kotu at 10:30am, following widespread public protests over prolonged electricity blackouts across the Greater Banjul Area and parts of the West Coast Region.

The inspection comes less than 24 hours after residents took to the streets in several communities, carrying candles and demanding an immediate restoration of electricity.

In Banjul, residents led by Banjul North National Assembly Member Modou Lamin Bah staged a candlelight protest over what they described as a prolonged 24-hour blackout.

Protesters chanted, “Bring back power, we are tired of the darkness,” while others shouted, “Banjulians deserve better.”

The demonstrations later spread to other parts of the Greater Banjul Area and the West Coast Region, including communities where residents expressed frustration over recurring and prolonged power cuts.

Reports said protesters gathered in areas including Ebo Town, Churchill’s Town, Bakoteh, Manjai, Brikama, Busumbala and Wellingara.

At Westfield, the protest reportedly became tense after demonstrators moved towards the NAWEC headquarters, with police using tear gas to disperse the crowd, according to local reports.

The overnight protests have put renewed pressure on NAWEC and the government to provide answers and a lasting solution to the country’s electricity crisis.

NAWEC has attributed recent power shortages to rising electricity consumption, fuel challenges and constraints affecting the wider regional power system.

The utility has also previously said that reduced regional power availability has contributed to the electricity supply challenges, prompting temporary measures to secure additional generation capacity.

By Adama Makasuba