The complete blackout in several northern states, especially Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa, has alarmed the Northern Senators Forum, a group of senators from the 19 northern states.
In a statement released in Katsina on Friday, Forum Chairman Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’adua urged the Federal Government to promptly restore power since commercial operations are being suspended in Jigawa, Katsina, and Kano.
He said that national grid disruptions and vandalism were to blame for the blackout, which has caused financial hardship and jeopardised healthcare services, which have grown too expensive for the average person.
In order to restore a dependable power supply and strengthen security to safeguard electrical infrastructure, the conference requested the Federal Government to promptly repair and prioritise the Shiroro-Kaduna transmission lines.
The statement read: “Enhance security and implement measures to prevent future vandalism and protect power infrastructure.
“Support Renewable Energy and back KEDCO’s initiatives for renewable energy and Mini Grid solutions to provide sustainable power options.
“The ongoing outages, resulting from vandalism and national grid disturbances, 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.
The forum acknowledges the progress made in power distribution under the current administration and appreciates efforts to improve the sector.
“However, the situation demands urgent attention to alleviate the suffering of constituents and revitalize economic activities.”