The Northern Senators Forum, comprising senators from the 19 northern states, has raised concerns about widespread power outages affecting several northern regions, particularly Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa.
In a statement issued by the Forum’s Chairman, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’adua, in Katsina on Friday, he urged the Federal Government to promptly restore electricity, as the ongoing blackouts are severely hampering commercial activities in these states.
He attributed the outages to vandalism and disruptions in the national grid, which have led to economic difficulties and inflated healthcare costs for the general populace.
The Forum called on the Federal Government to prioritize repairs to the Shiroro-Kaduna transmission lines to ensure a stable power supply and enhance security to protect electrical infrastructure.
The statement included: “We must strengthen security measures to prevent future vandalism and safeguard power facilities.”
Additionally, it advocated for support for renewable energy initiatives and KEDCO’s efforts to develop mini-grid solutions for sustainable power.
“The current outages, stemming from vandalism and national grid issues, have caused significant economic strain, disrupted healthcare services, and increased fuel costs for citizens.
Small businesses are struggling to survive, hospitals are facing higher operating expenses, and many livelihoods are under threat.
The Forum acknowledged the advancements in power distribution achieved by the current administration and expressed appreciation for ongoing efforts in the sector.
“Nevertheless, immediate action is needed to alleviate the hardships faced by constituents and to revive economic activities.”