• President mobilizes Minister of Power, security forces to restore power infrastructure
• Northern Govs ask FG to ‘urgently’ address power outage
• Power outage is a conspiracy to cripple Northern economy, says ACF
'Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja
Bello Alhassan, Kaduna
DAILY COURIER - President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has taken decisive steps to restore electricity in northern Nigeria, which has been gripped by a power outage for over a week. The blackout, reportedly caused by severe vandalism to the Shiroro-Kaduna transmission lines, has brought social and economic activities in the region to a standstill.
In response, Tinubu summoned the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, and National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to expedite efforts to repair the damaged infrastructure and restore power across affected states.
According to a statement from the State House, the President expressed deep concern over the blackout’s impact on northern communities and issued a directive for security forces, including the Army and Air Force, to provide protection for Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) engineers working to fix the damaged lines. Tinubu also urged traditional and community leaders to collaborate with security agencies in safeguarding critical public assets.
“We cannot allow acts of sabotage to cripple our nation’s economic progress,” Tinubu stated, emphasizing that Nigeria would no longer condone “deliberate sabotage and destruction of public utilities.” He called for a long-term solution to prevent future disruptions and ensure reliable power supply across the country.
The prolonged blackout has sparked significant distress in the northern region, with the Northern Governors’ Forum and the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) both raising alarms. The Northern Governors’ Forum, following a meeting in Kaduna, appealed to the Federal Government to urgently address the outage and bolster energy infrastructure in the region to enhance resilience against such incidents.
In a separate statement, the ACF warned that the power crisis could have severe national security implications, claiming it represents an unacceptable neglect of northern energy needs. “This issue,” the ACF stated, “has exposed the vulnerability of our infrastructure and the urgent need to build additional transmission lines to ensure equitable energy distribution across regions.”
For businesses and residents in northern Nigeria, the outage has led to substantial economic losses. Small businesses, such as barbing salons, food processors, and local shops, are struggling to operate without access to affordable power sources. Medium-scale enterprises, including rice mills and bakeries, have also been severely impacted, many unable to afford the rising costs of alternative energy sources.
Amid growing frustration, the ACF accused the Federal Government of overlooking the northern region’s energy demands, citing disparities in power allocation. The forum urged a review of the country’s power distribution policies, highlighting that while the north generates substantial energy, it receives disproportionately low supply in comparison to other regions.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria, through its General Manager of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, confirmed that efforts are underway to restore power to the region but acknowledged the challenges posed by ongoing security concerns. “Our engineers are working diligently despite prevailing security risks,” Mbah stated.
As residents and business owners await relief, President Tinubu’s orders signify a government-backed commitment to restoring stability in northern Nigeria and addressing concerns about the security and reliability of critical infrastructure.
