Senators representing Nigeria’s 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory have raised concerns about prolonged power outages severely impacting Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa states.
Under the Northern Senators Forum (NSF), led by Chairman Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’adua of Katsina Central, the group described the outages as “devastating,” citing increased economic hardships, strained healthcare services, and escalating fuel costs as a direct result.
In a statement, Senator Yar’adua called on President Bola Tinubu’s administration for immediate intervention to address the crisis, emphasizing the strain on small businesses and healthcare facilities.
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“Small businesses are struggling to operate, hospitals are facing increased running costs, and livelihoods are being severely impacted,” the NSF noted, attributing the outages to incidents of vandalism and disturbances within the national grid.
To address the crisis, the NSF presented specific requests to the Federal Government, including accelerated repairs to the Shiroro-Kaduna transmission lines, which would help restore stable power to the region.
They also urged the government to implement security measures to protect power infrastructure from further vandalism.
The senators further advocated for support for Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) in pursuing renewable energy and mini-grid projects to provide sustainable alternatives for affected communities.
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“The Forum acknowledges the progress made in power distribution under the current administration and appreciates efforts to improve the sector,” the statement read, stressing the need for swift action to ease residents’ hardships and drive economic recovery.
The call from the NSF highlights ongoing challenges within Nigeria’s power sector and the urgent need for stable power to alleviate the impact on everyday lives and regional economies.
