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Claim: A Facebook user claims the Gambian president has dismissed the Petroleum and Energy Minister Nani Juwara and the Managing Director of the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC), Gallo Saidy, and dissolved the company’s Board of Directors.
Verdict: False. No credible source has corroborated this claim, including news outlets, government websites, or official releases. Relevant government spokespersons also confirmed that the officials remain in their respective positions.
Full Text
The Gambia has faced an electricity crisis for months. Since June, reports have described regular power cuts, with some areas experiencing outages lasting more than 24 hours at a time. The National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) has attributed the supply challenges to a combination of factors, including increased electricity demand, technical difficulties, maintenance challenges, and constraints in regional electricity supply.
In June, the company also announced a temporary emergency power arrangement to respond to reduced regional power availability.
A social media post claims Gambian President Adama Barrow has fired Petroleum and Energy Minister Nani Juwara and National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) Managing Director Gallo Saidy, and dissolved the company’s Board of Directors.
The post was published on the National People’s Party (NPP)’s official Facebook page on Sept. 8, 2026, the same day President Barrow addressed the nation on the country’s electricity crisis.
The claim circulated amid widespread frustration and protests over prolonged electricity shortages.
The post, which was shared on Sept. 8, 2026, read, “His Excellency, the President has fired Nani Juwara and Galloh Saidy. He has also dissolved the NAWEC board. More actions to follow.”
A look through the comment section showed that while some Facebook users who interacted with the post believed it, others pointed out that it is untrue.
“Better late than never,” Saihou Omar Cham wrote.
“Thank you, His Excellency; now you’re taking the mantle of leadership,” Adama Bah commented.
“Fake news,” Babou Ceesay wrote.
“Please, is this story true?” Living Man inquired.
DUBAWA investigated the claim to set the record straight and enlighten the public about this approach to political disinformation.
Verification
On Sept. 8, 2026, President Adama Barrow addressed the nation on the electricity situation in The Gambia.
In the address, Barrow said his government was working with his ministers, NAWEC management, and other partners to address the electricity crisis.
“This is why I have not rested in searching for solutions, day and night, with my Ministers, with the Management of NAWEC, and with our partners here and abroad for the sole reason of permanently restoring uninterrupted power supply in our houses and workplaces,” President Barrow disclosed.
Barrow also announced that the government was installing an additional 24-megawatt generation machine at the Brikama Power Station and said he had established a Presidential Task Force on Electricity Supply.
However, the address did not announce the removal of Nani Juwara as Minister of Petroleum and Energy, the removal of Gallo Saidy as NAWEC Managing Director, or the dissolution of the NAWEC Board.
President Adama Barrow addresses the nation on the country’s electricity crisis on September 8, 2026.
Also, at the time of this fact-check, DUBAWA did not find any official government announcement that confirms Juwara or Saidy have been removed from their positions.
DUBAWA checked official government websites and found that the Office of the President’s website lists Juwara as Minister of Petroleum and Energy.
Meanwhile, the cabinet section of the Office of the President’s official website lists Juwara as Minister of Petroleum and Energy for the Gambian government.
Meanwhile, NAWEC’s official Board of Directors page identifies Saidy as Managing Director. It also says he has held that position since 2024.
The social media post further claims that President Barrow dissolved the NAWEC Board.
However, NAWEC’s official Board of Directors page shows that the board has not been dissolved. It lists Dawda Jawara as its Chairman and Abdourahman Mboob as its Vice Chairman.
Other board members include the Permanent Secretary, Mines and Energy, Abdoulie Jallow, Tijan Bahoum, Neneh Ndiaye, Gallo Saidy, and Fatou Darboue, the board secretary.
At the time of this fact-check, DUBAWA found no official announcement from the Office of the President or NAWEC confirming that the Board had been dissolved.
DUBAWA contacted the Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Ismaila Ceesay, to establish whether President Barrow had fired Nani Juwara and Gallo Saidy or dissolved the NAWEC Board.
The minister described the information as “fake news.”
DUBAWA also contacted NAWEC’s Communications Officer, Pierre Sylva, to establish whether Gallo Saidy is still in office and whether the company’s Board had been dissolved.
Sylva confirmed that Saidy remains in office and that the Board had not been dissolved.
“The MD is still here, and we have not got that from anywhere. He’s still here. The Board is still intact. The MD is even travelling to China for some project negotiations,” Sylva stated.
Conclusion
The claim that President Barrow fired Juwara and Saidy and dissolved the NAWEC Board is false.