The Northern Senators Forum has called for swift action from the Federal Government to restore electricity to Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa states, where residents have been grappling with severe power outages.
Speaking in Katsina on Saturday, the Chairman of the Forum, Senator Abdulaziz Yar’adua, stressed the critical nature of the situation, emphasizing that prompt intervention is necessary to alleviate the hardship faced by constituents across these regions.
He said, “The prolonged outages, primarily attributed to vandalism and national grid disturbances, have caused significant economic strain. Small businesses struggle to survive, hospitals face mounting operational costs, and residents bear the burden of expensive fuel as an alternative energy source.
“The ongoing outages have brought economic hardship, compromised healthcare delivery, and imposed expensive fuel costs on citizens. Small businesses are struggling to operate, hospitals are facing increased running costs, and livelihoods are being severely impacted.”
In response, the forum outlined specific requests for government intervention to stabilize and improve the power supply in the affected states.
These include an urgent call to expedite repairs on the Shiroro-Kaduna transmission lines to restore a reliable supply and the implementation of security measures to prevent further vandalism of power infrastructure.
Also, the forum highlighted the need for sustainable energy solutions, urging support for renewable energy and mini-grid initiatives proposed by the Kano Electricity Distribution Company.
Acknowledging recent advancements in power distribution under the current administration, Yar’adua noted that despite these efforts, the situation remains dire.
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“The situation demands urgent attention to alleviate the suffering of constituents and revitalize economic activities,” he said.
The forum stated its commitment to advocating for policies and measures that prioritize the welfare of northern communities, underscoring the immediate need for federal action to support economic stability and quality of life in Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa states.