By Aminata Abu Bakarr Kamara
Residents of Lungi, the town that hosts Sierra Leone’s only international airport, have expressed growing frustration over the persistent “one week on, one week off” electricity supply that continues to disrupt their daily lives and cripple local businesses.
For several months now, the people of Lungi have endured irregular power cuts, leaving homes, schools, and commercial areas in prolonged darkness. The unreliable electricity supply has affected comfort, safety, and the livelihoods of many small business owners who depend on a steady power flow to survive.
Mariama Kamara, a cold store owner at Tagrin, described how the unstable electricity has devastated her business.
“When there’s no light for a whole week, all my fish get spoiled. I lose a lot of money because fuel for the generator is too expensive,” she lamented.
The situation has also had a severe impact on education. Ibrahim Conteh, a teacher at Al-Kudus Islamic Secondary School, shared his concerns.
Students find it difficult to study at night, and even teachers struggle to prepare their lessons. We are living in a very difficult situation, he said.
According to residents, the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) has reportedly implemented a rotational supply system in Lungi, providing electricity for one day and cutting it the next. While authorities attribute the problem to fuel shortages and maintenance challenges, locals argue that these explanations are no longer acceptable particularly for a town of such national importance.
Lungi, home to the Freetown International Airport, is Sierra Leone’s main gateway to the world. Yet, residents say that the unreliable electricity sends a negative impression to international visitors and undermines the town’s potential for development.
Hawa Mansaray, a local businesswoman and youth advocate, appealed to the government to take urgent action.
This town represents Sierra Leone to the world. When visitors land at the airport and see us living in darkness, what impression does that create? We deserve better, she emphasized.
Community members are now calling on the Ministry of Energy and EDSA to find a lasting solution to the persistent outages. They believe that a stable and consistent power supply would improve education, healthcare, and business operations and restore public confidence in the government’s commitment to equitable regional development.
As frustrations mount, the people of Lungi remain hopeful that authorities will act swiftly to end their long struggle for reliable electricity a basic necessity that every Sierra Leonean deserves.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday, 8th October 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
