The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has expressed concern over the prolonged power outage affecting northern Nigeria, following vandalization of electricity transmission lines. In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Tukur Muhammad-Baba, ACF suggested that suspicions are mounting within the region that the Federal Government may be intentionally withholding power to economically disadvantage the North. They urged the government to declare a state of emergency on the power supply issue in the region.
“For over a week, most northern states have been grappling with a prolonged power outage, which has severely disrupted economic and social activities,” the statement noted, adding that frustration among residents continues to grow.
The ACF highlighted the region’s limited access to power infrastructure, contrasting it with other parts of the country. It pointed out that while Lagos has eight power substations, the entire northern region, home to more than half of Nigeria’s population, is served by only three located in Jos, Kaduna, and Kano.
The Forum raised concerns that statements from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) indicate the problem could persist due to technical and security issues, labeling this as a significant threat to national security. They warned that continued inaction and silence from officials on the matter represent a serious neglect of duty.
“To suggest that the problem has its roots in what had been done or not in the past is merely to make excuses. To lamely offer unintelligent excuses – excuses, not reason – that the problem cannot be immediately addressed due to banditry along power supply lines is to totally surrender to the terroristic criminals,” the group said.
“It is inconceivable that Nigeria’s fairly vast array of security agencies, with their humongous budgetary allocations, cannot dislodge and subdue the rag-tag bandits, reclaim and dominate territory.
“Not unexpectedly, the problem has been a subject of intense debate and lamentations in the media, neighbourhood gatherings, business premises, etc. The smallest of small businesses (such as telephone recharge points, barbing salons, food processors, drinks sellers, etc.), from which millions eke out a daily living are unable to operate. It has also been the same with medium-scale enterprises (such as rice mills, bread, and confectionary bakers), that do not have alternative sources of power or cannot afford associated high fuel costs.
“Home and office operate without cooling and heating and at night are literally thrown into the medieval dark ages of the primitive, pre-civilisation era. ACF notes that there has emerged, and growing, palpably evidence that it is to the utter consternation and disappointment of people that the problem appears to attract only deafening silence, suggesting indifference, from those who are constitutionally expected to respond with care and concern”.
ACF therefore, called on the Federal Government and other relevant authorities concerned to declare a state of emergency on the problem before it snowballs into a crisis.
“This threat to national security should forthwith be treated with the seriousness it deserves. The problem be addressed with the honest URGENCY it deserves;
It also called for an immediate review of power supply allocation in the country since all consumers pay for it, adding that It is unacceptable that while the North acts as a candle that supplies light, it is being melted down and plunged into darkness.
“This ought to and must change with immediate effect in the interest of national stability, fairness, and equity, and alls on elected northern state governors and, members of the National Assembly representing constituencies in the northern states to speak out more vehemently and stridently demanding action on the problem as outlined above”.
