- Wakil also demanded accountability over persistent power outages in northern states.
- The PRP condemned the negative impact of the recurring power outages on businesses.
Abdullahi Ahmed Wakili has expressed deep outrage and disappointment over the recent week-long electricity blackout in Northern Nigeria.
This is contained in a statement issued by Wakil, the Kaduna north senatorial candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in the 2023 elections, on Tuesday.
On October 22, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) reported a power outage affecting the north-east, north-west, and parts of north-central Nigeria.
The incident occurred after the 330 kilovolt (kV) Ugwaji–Apir double circuit transmission lines tripped around 4:53am “due to a fault”.
Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s general manager of public affairs, said the fault was traced to Igumale, Benue state, where a section of the transmission line had snapped in a swampy forest.
However, on Monday, TCN said insecurity delayed repair, but it is working tirelessly to restore the bulk power supply.
‘APC-LED ADMINISTRATION INSENSITIVE’
Speaking in a statement on Monday, the PRP ex-senatorial candidate, said abysmal failure of governance is a glaring testament to the incompetence of the All Progressive Congress (APC) led administration.
Wakili noted that the inability to provide consistent power is a violation of Nigerians’ fundamental rights to reliable electricity and a decent quality of life.
He asked citizens to demand effective governance, transparency, and commitment to welfare.
“It is unacceptable that in the 21st century, we still experience such basic infrastructure failures, particularly when our nation is rich in resources and potential,” Wakil said.
“The lack of accountability and transparency from the APC government is appalling — time and again, we have seen empty promises and ineffective policies that have led to nothing but despair for the populace
“The inability to provide consistent power is not merely an inconvenience; it is a violation of the fundamental rights of our people to access reliable electricity and, by extension, a decent quality of life.”
‘DEVELOPING EVENTS’
On Monday, TCN said it is working tirelessly to restore bulk power supply in the Northern part of the country as quickly as possible despite prevailing security challenges.
In a statement by Ndidi Mbah, its general manager of public affairs, said it is working with security agencies to repair the vandalised Shiroro-Kaduna line that led to reduction of bulk electricity to Kaduna, Kano and other major cities in the north.
On Monday, President Bola Tinubu expressed concern over the prolonged blackout in northern Nigeria.
In a statement on Monday by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, Tinubu met with Adebayo Adelabu, the minister of power, and Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser (NSA) over the blackout.
He also directed Ribadu to work with the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to deploy adequate security personnel, including aerial cover, to protect the engineers who are fixing the damaged transmission line.
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