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Senators from the nineteen northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), under the Northern Senators Forum (NSF), have expressed serious concerns regarding severe power outages affecting Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa states.
Key Concerns
- The senators attributed the outages to vandalism and disturbances in the national power grid, resulting in significant economic hardship for residents.
- They highlighted the impact on small businesses struggling to operate, hospitals facing increased costs, and the overall livelihoods of citizens being severely compromised.
Call to Action
In a statement from the NSF Chairman, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’adua (APC, Katsina Central), the Forum urged the Federal Government, led by President Bola Tinubu, to take immediate action to restore electricity to the affected areas.
Demands from the Northern Senators Forum
- Expedited Repairs: The Forum called for the urgent repair of the Shiroro-Kaduna transmission lines to ensure a reliable power supply.
- Enhanced Security: They urged the implementation of measures to prevent future vandalism and protect power infrastructure.
- Support for Renewable Energy: The senators encouraged backing for KEDCO’s initiatives related to renewable energy and mini-grid solutions to provide sustainable power options.
While acknowledging progress made in power distribution under the current administration, the senators emphasized the need for urgent intervention to alleviate the suffering of their constituents and revitalize economic activities in the affected regions.