The Northern Senators Forum has called on the Federal Government to take immediate action to restore electricity in Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa states, where prolonged power outages have heavily impacted residents and businesses. Senator Abdulaziz Yar’adua, Chairman of the Forum, addressed the issue in Katsina on Saturday, stressing the urgency of intervention to relieve the hardships faced by citizens across these regions.
Yar’adua outlined the detrimental effects of the outages, linking them to vandalism and disturbances in the national grid. He highlighted that the blackout has put immense economic strain on local communities, with small businesses struggling to operate, hospitals facing steep operational costs, and residents bearing high fuel expenses as they rely on alternative energy sources. “The ongoing outages have brought economic hardship, compromised healthcare delivery, and imposed expensive fuel costs on citizens,” Yar’adua stated.
To address these challenges, the Forum called for immediate government intervention, particularly in expediting repairs to the Shiroro-Kaduna transmission lines, which are crucial for a stable power supply in the region. They also urged the government to implement stronger security measures to prevent further vandalism of power infrastructure.
The Forum further emphasized the need for sustainable energy solutions. They recommended support for renewable energy projects and mini-grid initiatives proposed by the Kano Electricity Distribution Company as part of a broader effort to strengthen power distribution and reduce dependency on the national grid. While acknowledging recent improvements under the current administration, Yar’adua noted that the power supply challenges in northern Nigeria require additional focus.
The Northern Senators Forum expressed its commitment to championing policies that prioritise the welfare of northern communities, underscoring the need for federal action to restore electricity and promote economic stability in Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa.
