Senators from Nigeria’s 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, under the Northern Senators Forum (NSF), have raised concerns over severe power outages affecting Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa.
The NSF, led by Chairman Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’adua of Katsina Central, described the outages as “devastating,” citing increased economic hardships, compromised healthcare services, and rising fuel costs as consequences.
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In a statement, Yar’adua called on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to intervene, emphasizing the need for immediate action to alleviate the crisis. “Small businesses are struggling to operate, hospitals are facing increased running costs, and livelihoods are being severely impacted,” the forum noted. According to the senators, the outages stem from incidents of vandalism and ongoing national grid disturbances.
The forum presented specific demands to the Federal Government, urging expedited repairs to Shiroro-Kaduna transmission lines to restore a reliable power supply. They also called for enhanced security measures to protect power infrastructure, stressing the need for measures to prevent future vandalism. Additionally, the NSF advocated support for Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) initiatives, including renewable energy and mini-grid solutions, to create sustainable power alternatives for affected communities.
“The Forum acknowledges the progress made in power distribution under the current administration and appreciates efforts to improve the sector,” the statement read, adding that urgent action is required to ease the suffering of residents and stimulate economic recovery.
