In light of the ongoing power outages in northern Nigeria, caused by the vandalism of electricity transmission lines, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has raised concerns about suspicions that the Federal Government is intentionally allowing the prolonged blackout to disadvantage the region and exacerbate its economic challenges.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Tukur Muhammad-Baba, the forum urged the Federal Government to promptly declare a state of emergency regarding the persistent outages and the unequal distribution of electricity supply in the region.
“Over the past one week and still counting, most parts of the northern states of Nigeria have been battling with sustained electric power supply outage, leading to near total paralysis in economic and social activities, not to talk of growing generalised frustration of the populace,” the group said.
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The Forum expressed deep concern over the worsening situation, noting that statements from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) indicate that the issue is likely to continue indefinitely due to ongoing technical and security challenges.
The ACF questioned why the northern region, which generates a significant portion of the country’s electricity, receives such a minimal supply.
They highlighted the stark disparity: Lagos alone has eight substations, while the entire northern region, home to over half of Nigeria’s population, has just three substations located in Jos, Kaduna, and Kano.
The Forum warned that the current circumstances pose a serious national security threat.
They criticized the silence of public officials, describing it as a troubling example of the abdication of responsibility, which is utterly unacceptable.
“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”.
The ACF has urged the Federal Government and other relevant authorities to declare a state of emergency regarding the issue before it escalates into a full-blown 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”.
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