The governors from 19 northern states in Nigeria met on Monday to discuss the need for different sources of energy due to ongoing power outages affecting 17 states in the region. Only Niger and Kwara have had electricity during the last two weeks, while states like Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Gombe, and Katsina are among the hardest hit, experiencing no power at all.
These blackouts have severely impacted businesses in the area, largely due to damage to power lines caused by vandalism. To tackle this issue, Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Yahaya brought together the 18 other northern governors and traditional leaders for an urgent meeting.
Notable figures like the Sultan of Sokoto and other influential local leaders attended this meeting. The group urged the Federal Government to fix the current power outages and invest in new power lines and diverse energy sources to improve electricity availability in the region.
In a statement, Governor Yahaya said that the group wants the government to quickly address the electricity issues caused by vandalism and to build better infrastructure to enhance energy access.
Additionally, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, a former presidential candidate, expressed his concern about the situation on social media, urging governors to look into alternative power options to meet the energy needs of their states.
A Nigerian official expressed frustration that many areas in Northern Nigeria are experiencing blackouts because vandals damaged the important power line that connects the Shiroro area to Kaduna, which supplies electricity to places like Kano and parts of the northeast. The situation is worse because petrol and diesel prices are high, leading to more outages and factory closures.
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He emphasized that the power sector needs better resources and solutions to prevent such problems in the future and suggested exploring alternative energy sources. He mentioned how Kano had successfully used local rivers to generate power by installing turbines.
President Bola Tinubu responded by urging the Minister of Power to quickly restore electricity to the affected states. He highlighted the government’s commitment to stop any intentional damage to public utilities and wants to ensure the safety of workers repairing the damaged power lines.
The government also announced plans to invest between $1 billion and $2 billion in new solar plants to provide extra power for the 19 northern states. This would use the region’s sunny weather to ease the pressure on the national power grid.
The Minister of Power explained that the current blackout is affecting 17 states and that the repairs have been slow due to security issues for the repair crews. However, the president assured him that security would be provided to help workers safely fix the transmission line.
The Minister believes that repairing the line could take three to five days, depending on security conditions. He also mentioned plans to upgrade the old power infrastructure to ensure more reliable electricity in the future.
Summary of the Situation with Nigeria’s Power Supply
Old Infrastructure Problems
The Minister of Power has admitted that Nigeria’s old power system is a major reason for the unreliable electricity supply. The national grid, which is over 50 years old, has several issues, including worn-out transmission lines, shaky towers, and old transformers and substations. For example, a transformer that recently exploded in Jebba had been in use for 47 years.
While the government is working to upgrade this equipment, a complete fix won’t happen right away. The minister also discussed plans for a “super grid,” which would provide an alternative way to deliver electricity if the main grid fails. He believes that breaking Nigeria’s power system into smaller, state-level grids will help prevent problems in one area from affecting the rest of the country.
Until these plans are put into action, the government will keep managing the current grid to reduce power outages. When asked about compensation for people impacted by recent blackouts, especially in the top consumption category, the minister mentioned ongoing talks with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and power companies.
Recent Power Outages
Some southern states have dealt with prolonged power outages, including Bayelsa State, which has been without electricity for over three months due to vandalism of power towers. In Anambra, a blackout lasted nearly five days, disrupting businesses and leaving residents without electricity and water.
Since then, power has started to return in some areas.
Political Reactions
Political leaders from various parties have criticized the government’s handling of the power situation. Kennedy Ahanotu, the National Youth Leader of the Labour Party, believes the ongoing blackouts represent policy failures, especially since citizens are paying higher electricity rates without seeing improvements. He warned that if the government doesn’t fix the problem soon, people might suspect it’s intentional neglect aimed at certain regions.
Ibrahim Abdullahi from the Peoples Democratic Party echoed these concerns, highlighting the suffering of families and the impact on their livelihoods. He blamed the current government for the ongoing issues.
Ladipo Johnson from the New Nigeria People’s Party described the situation as worrying, questioning the government’s slow response to the power crisis, even though they claim the power companies have been privatized.
In contrast, the ruling APC party’s spokesman, Bala Ibrahim, said that power supply has actually improved under the current administration. He attributes recent outages in the north to vandalism, arguing that the government is committed to solving these issues and that the problems aren’t due to a lack of electricity generation.
Overall, while there are efforts to address the power supply problems in Nigeria, there are significant frustrations among citizens, with political leaders pointing fingers at one another regarding the root causes and solutions.
