A week of Darkness: Northern Nigeria Grapples with Prolonged Power Outage
By Muazu A. Ishaq
For the fast seven agonizing days, residents of many Northern Nigerian cities have fave faced an unprecedented power failure which plunged the region into darkness courtesy of the collapsed national grid (which is increasingly becoming a normal routine). The resulting power failure has not only disrupted daily life but also brought socio-economic activities to a grinding halt, inflicting untold hardship on residents. As the authorities remain inexplicably silent and adamant, it is imperative they we cry out loud and voice our concern and grievances to authorities and stakeholders to intervene immediately and urgently.
This recent power failure has plunged millions in to darkness with not access to alternative power sources, disrupting business, schools, and public services. For the past seven days families are left without access to basic amenities such as clean water and sanitation, refrigeration for food preservatives and even mobile communication. As the situation remains unchanged, Hospitals, businesses, and many households are forced to rely on expensive, unaffordable and some time hazardous alternative power sources.
As a result, anxiety, disappointment and frustration are increasingly mounting among citizenry who feel abandoned, marginalized and rejected by the government in their time of need.
The attendant consequences of these prolonged power failure are many:
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– Hospitals struggle to provide critical care, putting lives at risk.
– Businesses suffer losses, threatening livelihoods.
– Food storage and preservation are compromised, exacerbating food insecurity.
– Security concerns escalate as darkness provides cover for criminal activities.
*Socio-Economic Implications:*
1. Economic losses: Estimated billions of naira lost daily due to idle businesses.
2. Food insecurity: Perishable goods spoil, worsening food scarcity.
3. Health risks: Hospitals’ ability to provide quality care compromised.
4. Security threats: Increased crime rates as darkness aids criminality.
5. Psychological trauma: Residents’ mental health suffers due to prolonged darkness.
*Call to Action:*
We urge the following authorities and stakeholders to intervene (provide an explanation and apologies, and more importantly)
1. Federal Government of Nigeria
2. Ministry of Power
3. National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC)
4. Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN)
5. Distribution Companies (DisCos)
6. Northern States Governors
7. National Assembly Members from Northern Nigeria
The citizens of northern Nigeria should collectively demand:
1. Immediate restoration of power supply.
2. Investigation into the collapse of the national grid and the discriminated power supply
3. Implementation of emergency measures to prevent future collapses.
4. Provision of relief materials to affected residents.
5. Long-term strategies to address Nigeria’s chronic power challenges.
Seven days of darkness is actually unacceptable. We cannot continue to live in a region where basic amenities like electricity are a luxury. We demand urgent action from authorities and stakeholders to restore power and address the underlying issues. The people of Northern Nigeria deserve better.
#RestorePowerToNorth
