Taraba State and much of Nigeria’s Northeast region have been plunged into darkness for over a week, leaving millions without power and prompting frustration and concern among residents and business owners. The extended blackout has disrupted essential services, shut down businesses reliant on electricity, and raised fears about worsening security risks in the region.
Local leaders and officials have yet to address the widespread outage publicly, drawing criticism from residents who are feeling neglected. Many have called on the Northern Governors’ Forum and federal leaders to intervene. Community leader Usman Milla described the situation as “unbearable,” voicing fears that the power crisis, if unresolved, could exacerbate security issues in the already vulnerable area.
“Most of us are baffled by the lukewarm attitude of our leaders toward the power outage in this part of the country,” Milla stated, adding that prolonged blackouts may push some residents toward desperate measures.
Local businesses are particularly feeling the impact, with owners expressing frustration over losses incurred from spoiled goods. Agnes Samuel, a food vendor, shared that her refrigerated stock had spoiled entirely. “All my plans have been frustrated because of this total blackout we’ve been enduring for over a week,” Samuel lamented. Another business owner, Salihu Alade, who sells sachet water and soft drinks, said he plans to close his business temporarily until power is restored, attributing the crisis to a perceived lack of proactive measures from northern leaders.
Alade urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to step in and address the issue. “Our leaders from this part of the country have failed us,” he said, calling for immediate federal action to resolve the crisis.
Meanwhile, a source from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) advised residents to unplug appliances in preparation for a potential high-voltage restoration, which could damage equipment if not carefully managed.
