Northern Nigeria is grappling with a devastating electricity crisis as 17 out of 19 states face prolonged blackouts, leaving residents frustrated and desperate.
The once-thriving region has seen its commercial and industrial activities come to a halt, with many now relying on alternative means to power their phones, laptops, and other essential appliances.
According to The PUNCH, the national grid has collapsed 108 times since the privatisation of the power sector, exacerbating the current crisis.
Apart from Niger and Kwara, which have maintained regular power supply, states like Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Gombe, and Katsina have been without electricity for over two weeks, with residents feeling the brunt of the outages.
In Kaduna, residents have turned to banks, eateries, and churches to charge their devices, often paying between N100 to N200 for the service.
“We have to come to this joint to charge our laptops and handsets because there’s no electricity in our area,” lamented Vennisa, a student at Kaduna State University, highlighting the negative impact on education.
The blackout has caused significant losses for local businesses, including cold stores and Point of Sale (PoS) operators, who report losing customers due to their inability to recharge devices.
A fun spot operator noted a drastic price hike for ice blocks, which have skyrocketed from N500 to N2,500 due to the electricity crisis.
The electricity supply woes have also hindered media operations, with journalists seeking alternative venues to charge their devices. Many now flock to bars and recreation centers to stay connected.
The Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company attributes the outages to vandalism of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) towers, disrupting bulk power transmission.
Despite the ongoing crisis, states like Niger and Kwara have reported stable electricity supply, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the national grid.
Energy expert Dr. Yusuf Ibrahim criticized the government for failing to address the disparities, calling for urgent reforms to ensure equitable power distribution.
The situation is dire in Katsina, where residents have experienced darkness for over ten days, raising fears that the trend may persist.
“We’re tired of living in darkness. We need electricity to survive,” said Hajiya Aisha
In Adamawa, the prolonged blackout has forced residents to seek charging solutions in hotels, leading to significant economic losses as businesses struggle to cope with the high cost of fuel and electricity.
Residents in Gombe and Taraba states have turned hotels and filling stations into makeshift charging hubs, while in Lafia, persistent power outages have led to rising insecurity and public outcry for improved services.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has implemented regulations to protect customers, but the ongoing crisis underscores the urgent need for systemic changes in the power sector.
As residents across the North continue to face the repercussions of the blackout, calls for President Bola Tinubu’s intervention are growing, with many urging a state of emergency on power infrastructure.
Until these issues are addressed, life without electricity remains a harsh reality for many in Northern Nigeria.
