The candlelight protests across the Greater Banjul Area and West Coast Region should be a warning the government cannot afford to ignore.

Gambians are angry. They are tired of blackouts, water shortages and years of promises without a lasting solution.

From Banjul to Ebo Town, Churchill’s Town, Bakoteh, Manjai, Brikama, Busumbala and Wellingara, residents took to the streets demanding something that should never have become a luxury: reliable electricity.

The message is clear: Gambians have had enough. This is no longer just about electricity. It is about the basic services people depend on, and at the centre of that is NAWEC.

NAWEC is responsible for providing electricity and water to its customers. It should therefore be held accountable for the service it delivers.

But the government cannot simply leave the problem at NAWEC’s door.

Government sets the policies and investment priorities that shape the company’s ability to do its job. It is also responsible for making sure there is enough infrastructure, funding and planning to meet the country’s needs.

That matters even more when many families are already struggling with rising prices and difficult economic conditions. People want to see public money used properly and services that actually make a difference in their daily lives.

President Adama Barrow’s planned inspection of NAWEC facilities in Brikama and Kotu is welcome. But Gambians need more than an inspection. They need results.

This is an opportunity to take a hard look at what is going wrong in the electricity and water sectors and what needs to change. There should be clear priorities, proper investment and follow-through.

The country also needs to look beyond conventional power generation. Solar and wind are options The Gambia should be taking much more seriously.

Greater use of renewable energy could help reduce pressure on the existing system and make the country’s power supply more reliable.

A modern economy cannot function in darkness. Businesses lose money, hospitals are disrupted and families are left trying to cope without reliable electricity.

The candlelight protests should be a turning point, not another round of public anger followed by temporary fixes.

Gambians have waited long enough. The time for lasting solutions is now.

Electricity and water are basic services, not privileges.