Prolonged power outages in Taraba State and across the Northeast continue to cause frustration among residents, and mounting criticism of elected leaders' silence on the crisis.
Widespread power outages have left millions of people in Taraba and surrounding states without power for more than a week, halting business operations, disrupting daily life and raising concerns about a possible rise in crime.
Surveys by reporters have highlighted growing dissatisfaction in states affected by the power outages, with many blaming leaders, especially those of the Northern Governors Forum, for inaction.
Despite power outages affecting both urban centers and rural areas, authorities have yet to address the situation publicly, fueling anger and a sense of neglect among residents.
Community leader Usman Mila described the power situation as "unbearable" and warned that if not resolved soon, security problems in the already fragile region could worsen.
“What perplexes most of us is the lukewarm attitude of our leaders towards power outages in this part of the country,” Mira said.
He added that prolonged power outages could force some residents into desperate measures, and local businesses, especially those that rely on electricity to store perishable goods, have been hit hard. pointed out.
Agnes Samuel, a food vendor, lamented that all her refrigerated stock had spoiled.
“All my plans have been thwarted by this total power outage that I have been enduring for over a week,” she said.
Similarly, Salihu Alade, a small business owner who sells sachets of water and soft drinks, expressed frustration and said he had concluded plans to close his business until power was restored.
Like all respondents, he attributed the crisis to a lack of proactive action by northern leaders and called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene.
“Leaders in this part of the country have failed us,” Alade said, calling for urgent action by the federal government to restore stability to the affected region.
Officials from Nigeria’s electricity transmission company TCN warn residents to unplug household appliances as power may be restored soon and high voltages may be generated that can damage equipment. and increased the urgency.
With ongoing developments, residents across the state and region are demanding immediate action from their leaders to address the crisis and prevent further deterioration of local security.
