
Prolonged power outage has left businesses struggling to survive in Katsina state.
For the past two weeks, residents have faced a total blackout that has severely impacted economic activities across various sectors.
This crisis began shortly after the pump price of petrol surged to 1050 naira, leading to increased transportation costs and making fuel unaffordable for many small business owners.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has attributed the blackout to vandalism of the Shiroro-Mando transmission line.
Security challenges in the area have hindered repair efforts, leaving the line out of service. Engr Nafisatu Asabe Ali, Executive Director of the Independent System Operator at TCN, explained, "Despite having the materials needed for repairs, TCN cannot proceed until the security situation improves."
Efforts to restore electricity through alternative means have been thwarted by technical issues.
An attempt to divert power via the Ugwuaji-Apir line was unsuccessful due to a tripping incident, further exacerbating the power supply problem.
Engr Nafisatu noted that while this line could potentially carry up to 750 megawatts (MW) of power, only 350 MW can be safely transmitted due to voltage stability issues.
Local businesses, particularly those reliant on electricity, have been hit hard. Jonah Adejor, a soft drink vendor, lamented, "I lost patronage because many customers prefer buying cold drinks, but since the total blackout, they have disappeared." Similarly, Muhammad Imran, who sells beverages along the Kaduna-Abuja road, shared, "Travelers buy cold drinks regularly. But since there is no light to make ice water, they no longer have interest."
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has criticized TCN for not implementing measures to prevent equipment failures, such as transformer explosions, which contribute to frequent outages. NERC Chairman Garba Usman called for stronger protective measures to avoid disruptions to the entire grid.
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