Blackout: It’s time for alternative power sources – Kwankwaso

Presidential Candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has said it’s about time to look into alternative options for power sources.

Kwankwaso said this in reaction to the power outage in northern Nigeria.

The outage. which has lasted eight days is subjecting businesses to loss and crippling essential services.

In a post on his official Facebook page, he said, “It is very disheartening that many parts of Northern Nigeria are in total darkness today due to vandalism on the important 330kV Shiroro-Kaduna power line that supplies the states of Kano and Kaduna and another line that supplies Bauchi, Gombe and other parts of the northeast.

“This situation has been further compounded by the high cost of petrol and diesel in Nigeria, which has further plunged homes into darkness and forced factories to close down.

“The time this crisis has taken to be addressed underscores the huge deficit of capacity our power sector has to address large scale problems and this must be addressed to avoid any future disruption.

• Kogi, others urged to withdraw suit challenging EFCC’s legality
• NIGERIA DAILY: Why More Car Owners Are Switching To Public Transport

“It is about time that we look into alternative power sources to address our energy needs and we need to exploit the abundant resources available to this country.”

Kwankwaso encouraged state governments and private investors to invest in alternative electricity sources.

“I wish to therefore encourage all state governments and private investors to invest in alternative electricity sources just like we did in Kano by installing two turbines in the Challawa Gorge and Tiga Dams in order to reduce the reliance on our inadequate and aged energy sources.”