The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has expressed concerns that the Federal Government may be intentionally allowing the prolonged blackout in northern Nigeria to persist, further aggravating the region’s economic hardships.
According to reports, ACF made this claim in light of the ongoing power outage, reportedly caused by the vandalism of electricity transmission lines.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Tukur Muhammad-Baba, ACF urged the Federal Government to urgently declare a state of emergency on the ongoing power outage and the unequal distribution of electricity across the country.
“For more than a week, vast parts of the northern states have faced continuous power outages, nearly paralyzing economic and social activities, and leading to a growing frustration among the population,” the group stated.
The Forum expressed alarm over statements from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) indicating that the outage could persist due to technical and security issues, and questioned why the northern region, which generates a significant portion of the country’s electricity, receives such a small allocation in return.
Highlighting the disparity, ACF noted that Lagos alone has eight power substations, while the entire northern region, with over half of Nigeria’s population, has just three—located in Jos, Kaduna, and Kano.
“This situation is a clear threat to national security. Public officials’ silence on this issue reflects an unacceptable abdication of their responsibilities,” the statement continued.
Rejecting the notion that the crisis stems from past mismanagement, ACF criticized the Federal Government’s reliance on banditry along power lines as an excuse for inaction.
“It’s inconceivable that our well-funded security agencies cannot eliminate these bandits and secure power lines,” the group argued.
The power crisis has disrupted livelihoods for small and medium businesses, from phone charging stations to food processors, many of whom lack affordable power alternatives. Homes and offices have been left in oppressive conditions, with residents facing sweltering days and pitch-dark nights.
The ACF condemned what it sees as an indifferent response from government leaders and called on the Federal Government to prioritize the crisis as a matter of national security.
It also demanded a fair distribution of power resources, pointing out the irony of the North “being the candle that provides light yet being cast into darkness.”
“This unjust situation must be rectified immediately in the interest of national stability, fairness, and equity,” the ACF asserted, urging northern state governors and National Assembly members to advocate forcefully for action.
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