The Northern Senators Forum has called on the federal government to urgently restore electricity in several northern states, including Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, and Jigawa.
The forum specifically requested the immediate repair of the Shiroro-Kaduna transmission lines to ensure a steady power supply to the affected areas. In a communique signed by the Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, Senator Abdulaziz Yar’adua, and made available to the press on Saturday in Abuja, the senators also urged the government to implement measures aimed at preventing further vandalism of power infrastructure in the region.
The affected areas have been dealing with power outages due to a fault in the 330kV DC Transmission Line, which has disrupted electricity in the North-East, North-West, and parts of the North-Central regions. The line, which serves as a backup for states under the Kaduna Electric, Jos Electricity Distribution Company, and Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO), has been out of service, resulting in widespread blackouts.
The communique highlighted the impact of the power outages, stating, “The ongoing outages, resulting from vandalism and national grid disturbances, have brought economic hardship, compromised healthcare services, and imposed high fuel costs on citizens.”
It continued, “Small businesses are finding it difficult to operate, hospitals are facing increased operational costs, and the livelihoods of many citizens are being severely affected.”
The forum urged the federal government to prioritize repairs on the Shiroro-Kaduna transmission lines to restore a stable power supply in the region. Additionally, the senators encouraged the government to support renewable energy initiatives by KEDCO and to promote mini-grid solutions for sustainable power options.
The Northern Senators Forum acknowledged the progress made in power distribution under the current administration but stressed the urgency of addressing the ongoing power crisis to ease the suffering of constituents and revitalize economic activities in the North.
