‘We’re tired of blackouts in our states’: Northeast governors cry out, tables key demands from FG

Governors under the umbrella of the North-East Governors Forum have cried out over the persistent blackouts facing the region in the last month.

The Forum denounced the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN over what it calls a ‘ nonchalant attitude’ in ending the energy crisis that has affected the people’s businesses and other day-to-day affairs.

The governors disclosed their grievances in a communique issued at the end of their 10th meeting hosted by Governor Bala Mohammed at the Government House, Bauchi.

The communique reads “Forum notes with dismay, the blackout experienced by the region over the last one month and the nonchalant attitude exhibited by the TCN in addressing this issue of National importance for the security and development of the country.

To tackle the challenge through a short-term initiative, the Forum said it plans to set up power plant that can generate a minimum of 10 Megawatts in each state.

“Forum is keenly watching the commitment made by TCN to restore power to all the states of the region by the 27th May 2024; accordingly, the Forum urges the Federal Government to direct TCN to take immediate action. The Forum has resolved in the short term, to set up a solar power plant that can generate a minimum of 10 Megawatts per State.”

The Forum further raised concerns on the neglect of the Northeast in the allocation of Federal Government Capital Projects.

It said that nothing significant appeared to be happening despite its repeated calls for attention to the region’s dire infrastructure, particularly the inadequate road and rail systems along the economic corridors connecting the Northeast subregion to the rest of the nation.

“ The roads from Enugu to Maiduguri are in deplorable states and the railway from Enugu up to Maiduguri has been destroyed. This is a major route for regional trade and very important for integration, peace-building and improving national unity. “