By Yahaya Moh’d Usman
The issue of lack of electricity that has pervaded almost all northern states 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 as a whole
Recall how Endsars started from complains, to mobilizing to civil disobedience that almost brought Nigeria to its knees.
Electricity supply is an important economic issue and life of every Nigerian is tied to it. Toying with it is playing with fire.
Most of the state governors that should be in the vanguard for negotiating power supply to their states are more comfortable wasting state resources on unrealistic palliatives, festive Durbar and frequent social gatherings, flying privates jets and long motorcades.
The monies spent on some convoys in a year is enough to provide 24 hours electricity to some states.
A respondent in Gombe for instance told me it’s almost 48 hours since they had electricity supply at intervals. They get 2 or 4 hours and that’s all. This is 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. At the Local Government Areas, the stories are worse, Lapai for instance hardly gets supply and when they get, it is low voltage; same as Bida. Rcently in Kontagora, the stakeholders had to call a meeting to find ways to solve the issues of electricity.
In Ilorin, capital of Kwara state, a respondent told me they spent three days sometimes with no electricity and when it comes, it’s mostly just for a few 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 from a Governor who was a former SMEDAN boss and a PhD.
In Kano the story is bad. Apopulation of almost 15 million, merely three 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 four times in the 30 days of Ramadan. Unguwa Uku, Naibawa, Hotoro, Jambulo all suffer same fate.
In Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, a source said some areas have gone teo months with no single power supply. Areas like Bulunkutu, Gommari, Airport road, 1000 and 777 housing estates. Yet, Maiduguri is notorious for extreme heat sometimes going as far a 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.
The situation in Mubi, an LGA in Adamawa is bad,. Residents hardly they get two hours of electricity in 24 hours, while Yola – the capital city – gets between 6 – 8 hours in a day.
From Kebbi to Kogi, from Maiduguri to Mokwa, the story of poor electricity supply or total black out is rampant, this has killed several small businesses, throwing millions into joblessness and crime.
I insist that, if only Northern Governors could come together, 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 is better imagined.
This is one kobo sense, for those with ears and eyes.
