Northern governors have expressed urgent concerns over a widespread blackout plaguing the region, calling on the Federal Government to expedite efforts to restore power.
This plea was made during a meeting of the Northern Governors’ Forum, attended by traditional rulers and stakeholders, held in Kaduna on Monday.
In a communique issued after the meeting, the governors emphasized the pressing need for action, stating, “The Forum resolves to call on the Federal Government and relevant agencies to urgently address the current electricity power blackout affecting most of the Northern States due to vandalization of electricity transmission infrastructure.”
The blackout, resulting from the destruction of a transmission line, has left many areas without power for several days, severely impacting local businesses and paralyzing economic activities.
The governors highlighted the vulnerability of critical infrastructure and underscored the necessity to enhance energy resilience by building additional transmission lines and diversifying energy sources.
In response to the crisis, President Bola Tinubu has mandated the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, to accelerate restoration efforts.
Furthermore, President Tinubu has directed the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to collaborate with the Army and Air Force to deploy security personnel, including aerial support, to protect engineers working on repairing the damaged infrastructure.
The president condemned the vandalism of transmission lines, asserting that Nigeria will no longer tolerate “deliberate sabotage and destruction of public utilities.”
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has confirmed its commitment to restoring power, with General Manager of Public Affairs Ndidi Mbah stating, “TCN is working diligently to restore bulk power supply as quickly as possible despite prevailing security challenges.”
As the Northern region grapples with this electricity crisis, the call for urgent intervention underscores the critical need for improved infrastructure and security measures to safeguard essential services.
