Residents of Nasarawa State on Monday took to the streets of the state capital, Lafia, to protest the chronic and erratic power supply, calling for immediate government intervention to address the ongoing electricity crisis.

The demonstrators cited dilapidated infrastructure, worn-out transformers, inadequate power allocation, and poor maintenance as the main factors behind frequent blackouts that have severely disrupted daily life.

Speaking during the protest, the leader of the demonstrators, Ibrahim Abdullahi Attama, appealed to state authorities to initiate a comprehensive audit of the power infrastructure and to liaise with federal power agencies to secure sufficient electricity allocation for the state.

He said the situation has reached a critical point, significantly impeding business operations, educational activities, healthcare services, and the overall quality of life for residents.

Attama highlighted the glaring absence of routine and preventive maintenance on existing power facilities, which often results in prolonged outages lasting weeks or even months.

He pointed out that essential components, including poles, cables, and distribution lines, are visibly old, rusted, and in serious disrepair.

The protesters demanded that the government enforce regular maintenance schedules and expedite the replacement of faulty equipment, particularly worn-out transformers, to restore reliability to the network.

The protesters further stressed that the current power allocation to Nasarawa State is grossly insufficient to meet demand.

Attama said, “Even when the infrastructure is functional, the actual supply hours are minimal and unpredictable, indicating a fundamental shortfall in the megawatts made available for distribution.

“This inadequacy stifles growth and productivity, as businesses cannot rely on a stable power source.”

He called on the government to actively engage federal authorities to ensure a consistent and adequate electricity supply.

Criticising the management structure responsible for power distribution in the state, the demonstrators described it as inefficient and unresponsive to customer complaints.

They demanded better communication, transparency, and accountability from the distribution management to residents and businesses alike.

Attama warned that unless decisive action is taken, the protests will continue.

Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) had attributed the low supply to a lack of gas on the national grid and reduced water levels at hydro power plants.

The Nigerian Independent System Operator confirmed that gas shortages have reduced electricity generation to 4,300 megawatts, with only 692 million of the required 1,629 million standard cubic feet of gas being supplied to the grid. (Daily Trust)