By Yahaya Moh’d Usman
Poor electricity supply has pervaded almost all northern states and is a national security risk that Northern Governors are playing with. If they do not do something to resolve this, it has the potential to unite the masses with a call to action across the North and even Nigeria.
Recall how Endsars started from complaints to mobilizing to civil disobedience that almost brought Nigeria to its knees.
Electricity supply is an important economic issue, life of every Nigerian is tied to it. Toying with it is playing with fire.
Most of the state Governors who should be in the vanguard for negotiating power supply to their states are more comfortable wasting state resources on unrealistic palliatives, festive durbars and frequent social gatherings, flying private jets and long motorcades.
The monies spent on some convoys in a year are enough to provide 24-hour electricity to some states.
A respondent in Gombe, for instance, told me it’s almost 48 hours since they have an electricity supply at intervals they get two or four hours and that’s all. Same state the Governor is spending billions; “Gombe Approves N14.9Billion For New ‘Ultra-modern Governor’s Residence…”
In Minna, almost 24 hours sometimes no blink of electricity, and in the local government areas, the stories are worse. Lapai, for instance, hardly gets supply and when they get it, it is low voltage, same as Bida. Recently in Kontagora, the stakeholders had to call a meeting to find ways to solve the issues of electricity.
In Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, a respondent told me they spend three days sometimes with no electricity and when it comes, it’s mostly just for four hours and it’s gone again.
In Katsina State, the story is almost the same, no electricity supply. Katsina, with over 7 million people, almost all the factories are closed down and the government celebrates sharing food palliatives, too bad for a Governor who was a former SMEDAN boss and a PhD.
In Kano, the story is bad, a population of almost 15 million, merely 3 hours of electricity is supplied in 24 hours and some areas go days with no single supply for a whole month.
A respondent in Kurna said electricity was supplied only 4 times in the 30 days of Ramadan, Unguwa Uku, Naibawa, Hotoro, and Jambulo all suffered the same fate.
In Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, a source said some areas have gone two months with no power supply. Areas like Bulunkutu, Gommari, Airport Road, 1000 and 777 Housing Estates, and worst still Maiduguri are notorious for extreme heat sometimes going as far as 45 degrees, coupled with recuperation from terrorist activities that took 10 years of the state’s life. Electricity should be the first item on the list for SMEs to run else idle youth could descend back into crime.
In Adamawa, the situation in Mubi, an LGA in Adamawa is bad. They hardly get 2 hours of electricity in 24 hours, while Yola, the capital city, gets between 6 and 8 hours in 24 hours, sometimes.
From Kebbi to Kogi, from Maiduguri to Mokwa, the story of poor electricity supply or total blackout is rampant. This has killed several small businesses, throwing millions into joblessness and crime.
I insist that, if only Northern Governors could come together, and cut wastages and corruption, they could either subsidize electricity for the masses or even build electricity generation plants across the region.
If Governors fail and the current blackout continues, this could unite the people against themselves and the consequences are better imagined.
This is one kobo sense, for those with ears and eyes.