The Northern Senators Forum has urgently called on the Federal Government to take immediate action to restore electricity in Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa states, where residents are facing severe power outages.
During a press conference in Katsina on Saturday, Senator Abdulaziz Yar’adua, Chairman of the Forum, highlighted the critical situation, stating that swift intervention is necessary to alleviate the hardships experienced by constituents in these regions.
He pointed out that the ongoing outages, largely due to vandalism and disruptions in the national grid, have placed significant economic strain on communities. Small businesses are struggling to survive, hospitals are incurring higher operational costs, and residents are forced to rely on expensive fuel alternatives.
Yar’adua emphasized that the economic impact of these outages is profound, compromising healthcare delivery and burdening citizens with high fuel expenses.
He outlined specific requests for government intervention, including the urgent repair of the Shiroro-Kaduna transmission lines to ensure a reliable power supply and the implementation of security measures to prevent further vandalism of power infrastructure.
Additionally, the Forum called for support for renewable energy initiatives and mini-grid solutions proposed by the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) as part of a sustainable energy strategy.
While acknowledging recent improvements in power distribution under the current administration, Yar’adua insisted that more immediate action is needed to address the dire circumstances affecting local communities.
The Forum reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for policies that prioritize the welfare of northern communities, stressing the urgent need for federal action to support economic stability and enhance quality of life in Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa states
