By Fatou Sillah
The Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Nani Juwara, has emphasized that the ongoing rise in fuel prices should be viewed as a national challenge rather than a political matter.
Speaking in an interview with GRTS, the minister stressed that the impact of increasing fuel costs is being felt across the country and requires a collective response from all citizens.
“This is not politics; we are all Gambians, and it is affecting all of us,” he stated.
Juwara urged households to adopt practical measures to reduce fuel consumption, particularly by adjusting daily transportation habits. He encouraged families to make more efficient use of available vehicles, including carpooling where possible.
“I want to tell Gambians that if you have two cars in your house, and you and your wife are all going to the same workplace, I advise you to use only one vehicle to maximize the use of fuel and make the cost easier for the people,” he explained.
In addition to fuel conservation, the minister called for more responsible electricity use. He advised the public to switch off unused appliances and reduce unnecessary energy consumption.
“If your freezer is on, AC is on, and TV is on, please switch off the one you are not using. We advise people to switch off their electric bulbs during the day,” he said.
Juwara noted that while the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) has not increased electricity tariffs, the rising cost of fuel used in power generation is placing a significant strain on the sector.
“NAWEC did not increase their prices yet, but right now, the fuel they are using has almost doubled,” he said.
He further assured the public that the government is actively engaging with fuel importers to maintain a steady supply of petroleum products despite escalating global prices.
“We will try our best and work with companies that are responsible for the importation of oil so that it will not be in short supply in the country even if it is expensive,” he added.
Comments are closed.