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Empower States To Solve Power Blackouts – Atiku Tells Nigerian Govt

Published

2 weeks ago

Oct 27, 2024.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed concern over Nigeria’s ongoing issues with unstable power supply and frequent national grid collapses, especially in northern states currently facing widespread blackouts due to transmission line faults.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the latest blackout in the North follows multiple recent collapses of the national electricity grid, leaving many regions in prolonged darkness.

In a statement posted on his X account, the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate urged government agencies to act swiftly in restoring electricity to affected areas. Abubakar also advocated for states to be empowered to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity independently, suggesting this as a critical step toward reliable power.

“The electricity crisis in Nigeria continues to be a matter of immense concern,” Atiku wrote, highlighting the severe impact on the Northwest and Northeast regions, which have been in blackout for the past three weeks. He emphasized that each relevant government department must act quickly to restore power to the affected zones.

Abubakar further referred to his policy document, “My Covenant with Nigerians,” where he outlined a proactive solution to Nigeria’s energy issues, calling for the removal of the entire electricity value chain from the exclusive federal list, which would enable states to manage their own power supply.

He argued that industrial disputes affecting power in the nation’s capital should not impact the rest of the country.

The former vice president also stressed the need to build capacity in transmission and distribution infrastructure alongside investments in power generation.

“Our strategy should include a viable mix of renewable energy sources, such as hydro, solar, wind, and biofuels, along with non-renewable options like coal and gas,” he wrote.

He reiterated his call to encourage private investors to develop mini-grid systems that could eventually connect to the national grid, supporting a sustainable long-term solution.