By: Kebba Ansu Manneh
In a strongly worded press conference on Tuesday, Momodou Hydara, Managing Director of Jah Oil Company, vehemently rejected accusations that his firm is behind the ongoing cement shortage and skyrocketing prices in The Gambia. Instead, he pointed fingers at the Gambia Ports Authority (GPA), cement retailers, and truck drivers, insisting that Jah Oil has ample stock and has maintained its factory price at D390 per bag.
The conference comes amid widespread public frustration over cement scarcity, with retail prices ranging from D525 to D650 per bag in many areas. Builders, contractors, and ordinary citizens have been struck by the crisis, which has stalled construction projects and driven up building costs nationwide.
Hydara revealed that Jah Oil currently has two fully loaded vessels – the Brita Oldendorf, carrying 59,000 metric tons, and the GM Fortune, carrying 55,000 metric tons – anchored in Gambian waters, totaling over 114,000 metric tons. This volume, he said, is sufficient to meet national demand for more than three months. “The current shortage is not due to a lack of supply from Jah Oil Company,” Hydara stated. “The problem lies in our inability to berth and discharge vessels on time due to physical limitations at the port and its access channel.”
He attributed the delay primarily to the GPA’s failure to edge the navigation channel adequately, preventing large vessels from docking. Due to shallow depths, Jah Oil has resorted to using smaller vessels for transshipment, severely restricting supply volumes. Hydara noted that the company has repeatedly written to GPA about these challenges and expressed optimism that ongoing dredging efforts will soon allow vessels to access depths of 11-15 meters. In the interim, Jah Oil has procured an additional small ship to speed up offloading.
Turning to price hikes, Hydara firmly denied any increase at the factory gate, maintaining the D390 per bag price. He accused truck drivers and retailers of profiteering. Drivers, he claimed, are charging exorbitant rates – up to D30 per bag for trips to Jarra Soma (200km away) or D25-D30 within the Greater Banjul Area – far exceeding reasonable costs of around D10 per bag in urban areas. “This behavior is unpatriotic and a deliberate attempt to inflate prices,” Hydara said, suggesting some drivers own trucks affiliated with retailers aiming to discredit Gambian-owned companies like Jah Oil.
He further alleged that retailers are the main culprits, buying cement at factory prices only to resell at inflated rates. Since tariffs on land-imported bagged cement were raised, certain retailers have sought to undermine bulk importers like Jah Oil. Hydara challenged journalists to verify retailers’ invoices, asserting that Jah Oil has no control over retail pricing and that the government, as regulator, must intervene to curb these “unscrupulous” practices.
“As a company, we have no power to regulate drivers or retailers. We are not the government,” Hydara emphasized, recounting a recent meeting where he urged drivers to stop hoarding and overcharging. He described some actions as sabotage, possibly designed to pressure authorities into favoring competitors.
Hydara concluded by reaffirming Jah Oil’s commitment to stable supply and pricing, noting that the company holds over 115,000 tons of cement – enough to meet extended national needs – without any factory price adjustment.
The press conference has intensified debate over the cement market, with recurring shortages linked to port infrastructure issues, as seen in similar disruptions earlier in 2025. The GPA has recently accelerated dredging tenders to deepen the channel from 9.3 meters, aiming to accommodate larger vessels and prevent future bottlenecks. Meanwhile, calls grow for government intervention to stabilize prices and ensure fair practices across the supply chain.
As construction season peaks, Gambians await resolution, hoping improved port access and regulatory oversight will bring relief to an essential commodity market plagued by volatility.
