Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, has advised the, Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) to urgently provide solution to the blackout being experienced in parts of the state, particularly Minna, the state capital, and its environs.
For the past six months Niger State despite hosting the nation’s three major power generating dams, Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro, has been suffering ‘‘systematic blackout’’, with some areas having supply for barely 30 minutes once in three days.
The situation has grounded many businesses that use electricity to survive, forcing youths to protest on Wednesday, August 3, 2016.
The youths who came as a group, took their protest to the palace of the Emir of Minna, Umar Farouq Bahago, to register their reservations over the blackout, the inability of the state government to bring solution to the blackout.
The protesters carried placards with various inscriptions such as; “This is not the CHANGE we expect in Niger State,” “Bring Back our Light,” “Free us from Darkness; we need cold and frozen drinks,” “No power, No future”.
They also marched through major streets in Minna metropolis before heading to the Government House, Minna.
Addressing the youths, Governor Bello warned AEDC against overstretching its luck by the inability to solve the problem and again unable to proffer any convincing reason (s) the blackout persists since the inception of his administration.
Bello however expressed appreciation to the protesting youths led by, Yahaya Ibrahim for their peaceful conduct.
“The cause for which our youths are protesting is that which must be supported by all”, Bello said, as he warned that if nothing was done and urgently too similar to what is happening in Niger Delta may begin in Niger State.
Describing the power situation as the problem of the entire state, Bello who was represented by his Deputy, Ahmed Mohammed Ketso, demanded to know the allocation of electricity distribution in the state.
“We support you because you have done nothing wrong protesting against months of blackout. We sympathize with the situation and all of you, there is no light in the past three months but be patient because the government is doing something about it between now and Friday you will see the results”.
Leader of the protesters, Yahaya Ibrahim, said that Niger State deserves 30 percent of electricity generation, insisting that Oshogbo distribution centre should be relocated to Niger State while the AEDC should offer employment opportunities to Nigerlites of every level.