Northern Governors Demand Power Diversification as Tinubu Deploys Troops to Counter Vandalism

The governors of 19 northern states convened in Kaduna on Monday, pushing for urgent diversification of Nigeria’s energy supply amid an unprecedented power outage that has left 17 northern states in darkness for weeks. Only Niger and Kwara have been spared, while states like Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, and Gombe remain severely affected, stalling social and economic activities. Governor Muhammadu Yahaya of Gombe, Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, led the meeting, which included top traditional rulers such as the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, to address the pressing crisis.

In a communiqué issued after the gathering, Governor Yahaya urged the Federal Government to expedite solutions to the blackout, noting, “The vulnerability of our energy infrastructure has underscored the need to invest in diversified and resilient energy sources.” President Bola Tinubu, deeply concerned by the continued blackout, has directed Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu to accelerate efforts in restoring electricity across the region. Additionally, the President has ordered the deployment of security forces to protect engineers working on repairs and prevent further vandalism, calling the situation “unacceptable and disruptive.”

The vandalised 330 kV Shiroro-Kaduna transmission line, a vital link supplying electricity to northern Nigeria, has been the root cause of the crisis. Minister Adelabu assured residents that repairs are ongoing and estimated to be completed within days, thanks to intensified security efforts. To bolster the region’s energy independence, the federal government has secured funding commitments of up to $2 billion to install solar plants capable of generating 50 MW in each of the 19 northern states, taking advantage of the region’s abundant sunlight.

Leading voices in the region, including former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, have voiced their frustrations, stating that the prolonged blackout emphasises the “urgent need for alternative energy solutions.” Kwankwaso highlighted the success of Kano’s two turbines, installed at Challawa Gorge and Tiga Dams, as examples for other states to follow in developing independent power sources.

Amid public discontent, party representatives from both the opposition and the ruling APC weighed in. Kennedy Ahanotu of the Labour Party criticised the government’s response time, attributing the crisis to policy failures, while APC’s publicity director, Bala Ibrahim, emphasized that the administration is doing its best under difficult circumstances, adding, “No government will fold its arms in the face of sabotage. We are committed to pulling the nation out of darkness.”