ACF urges state of emergency on power outage in Northern Nigeria, cites national security threat

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has called for a state of emergency over the prolonged power outage affecting northern Nigeria, which has now extended for over a week, causing widespread disruptions and growing public discontent.

The ACF issued a statement urging the Federal Government and relevant authorities to act swiftly, warning that continued inaction poses a serious risk to national security.

According to the ACF, the outage has brought economic and social activities in the region to a standstill, impacting small and medium-sized businesses, as well as basic daily operations in homes and offices. With essential businesses, including food processors and service providers, unable to function, millions of citizens are struggling to maintain their livelihoods.

In its statement, the ACF highlighted apparent inequalities in electricity distribution, pointing to an uneven allocation of power infrastructure across the country. The organization criticized the imbalance, noting that while northern Nigeria has only three major substations, Lagos alone has eight, despite the region’s significant contribution to power generation.

The ACF also expressed disappointment over the silence from public officials on the matter, stating that the lack of response from the Federal Government and other leaders reflects an abdication of responsibility. The Forum urged northern state governors and National Assembly representatives to raise their voices, demanding an immediate review of power allocation across the nation.

ACF’s National Publicity Secretary, Prof. T. A. Muhammad-Baba, emphasized that this issue transcends mere infrastructure concerns, warning that the ongoing situation could escalate into a larger crisis. The ACF called for a reevaluation of power supply allocations, demanding that northern Nigeria receive a fair distribution of resources to ensure national stability and equitable treatment for all regions.