In a fervent call to action, Nigeria’s former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Wazirin Adamawa, has voiced deep concerns over the nation’s ongoing electricity crisis, highlighting the plight of regions grappling with prolonged blackouts. In a post shared on his official X handle, Atiku pointed to an “immense concern” surrounding the recent power outages, particularly in the Southeast and across the Northwest and Northeast states, which have been plunged into darkness for over three weeks.
Urging immediate government intervention, he stressed the critical need for all departments responsible for energy management to act swiftly and restore power to these distressed geopolitical zones. He underscored that energy stability is not merely a convenience but a cornerstone of national progress and economic survival.
Reflecting on his long-standing commitment to transforming Nigeria’s energy sector, Atiku reiterated that the solution to the country’s energy woes is outlined in his Policy Document, ‘My Covenant with Nigerians’. This proactive strategy, he contends, offers a sustainable path to “lead our country out of perennial darkness.” Central to his proposal is a fundamental shift in governance: removing the electricity sector from the exclusive federal list and empowering states to generate, transmit, and distribute their own power. Such decentralization, Atiku argued, would allow states to address their unique energy demands directly, promoting both autonomy and efficiency.
“It is unjust,” he continued, “for an industrial dispute in Abuja to paralyze industrial activities across our diverse states and cities. Our energy policy must prioritize uninterrupted power, enabling states to pursue their economic agendas without federal hindrances.”
Atiku called for a strategic blend of both renewable (such as hydro, solar, wind, and biofuels) and non-renewable (coal and gas) energy sources, emphasizing that Nigeria’s vast natural resources should be harnessed to meet local energy demands sustainably. Additionally, he advocated for substantial investments in transmission and distribution infrastructure, which are crucial to efficiently transport any newly generated energy across the nation.
Further emphasizing the need for private sector involvement, Atiku urged the government to encourage investments in developing green-field mini-grid transmission systems. These systems, he explained, would not only strengthen regional power generation but could eventually be integrated into the super-grid, offering a more resilient and adaptive power network in the medium to long term.
In closing, Atiku reaffirmed his commitment to an energy-secure Nigeria, a vision that he believes is achievable through decisive policy changes, strategic investments, and a collaborative approach to solving the energy crisis.
PIONEER NEWS 