The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has expressed deep concern over the ongoing power outages that have plagued large parts of Northern Nigeria for the past eight days, urging swift restoration efforts.
The coalition is calling on the Federal Government, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), northern governors, lawmakers, and relevant stakeholders to expedite actions to restore power to the affected region.
National Coordinator of CNG, Comrade Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, emphasised the need for increased investment in the North’s power infrastructure, warning that continued neglect will stifle the region’s development.
The coalition highlighted significant infrastructure deficits, pointing out that both the North West and North East suffer from inadequate transmission capacity.
Charanchi remarked: “This unprecedented blackout has thrown millions of households into darkness, crippled businesses, and worsened the already dire economic situation in the region.
“CNG reliably gathers that patients are already dying in various hospitals due to the inability of these facilities to provide alternative power sources to operate oxygen machines for critical patients.
“Preliminary findings by CNG indicate that the outage is the direct result of vandalism on the second Shiroro power line, which supplies the crucial Kaduna station responsible for distributing power to other northern states.
“We have also learned that the first line, which has been faulty for months, could have mitigated the situation had it been repaired promptly.”
Charanchi expressed disappointment that two towers along the power line were not given serious attention at the onset of the problem, leading to the prolonged outage. He added that the only available alternative, the Jos line, has been repeatedly tripping, with TCN working to resolve the issue but without offering a lasting solution.
“The current state of affairs is not just unacceptable but deeply alarming,” Charanchi stressed.
The CNG also called for a comprehensive review of the electricity distribution framework to ensure equitable access to power across Nigeria.
“There is a glaring imbalance in power allocation, with the North receiving only a fraction of available electricity compared to other regions,” Charanchi noted. “We demand a review of the current electricity distribution framework to ensure fair and equitable access to power across the country.
“We urge the Federal Government, TCN, and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to explain the rationale behind this unequal distribution, especially since the North hosts the majority of Nigeria’s hydropower stations.
“It is incomprehensible that the region responsible for a significant portion of the nation’s power generation is allocated a minimal share of the electricity.”
