Business
CNG condemns lingering power outage in North
The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has expressed concerns by the ongoing power outage that has paralysed parts of northern Nigeria and thrown millions of households into darkness, thereby crippling businesses.
It says the outage is the direct result of vandalism on the second Shiroro Power Line that feeds the Kaduna Station which distributes to other states in the north.
In a statement by its national coordinator, Comrade Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, the coalition said, “We learnt too that the first other line has been faulty for months. Yet, no effort to fix it could have saved the current avoidable situation.
“We are particularly disheartened to learn that two towers along this line have not received serious attention at the beginning of the problem to promptly restore power.
Furthermore, the only alternative source of supply, the Jos line, has repeatedly tripped, which the TCN currently said is working to fix, but cannot bring about a lasting solution. The current state of affairs is not just unacceptable but deeply alarming.”
CNG says after engaging with experts, it discovered that there is also a significant infrastructural gap as there is no transmission system to carry sufficient power to the North-west and North-east regions.
“Despite the establishment of the Transmission Rehabilitation and Expansion Programme (TREP) aimed at creating flexibility in transmission with a budget of $1.661 billion, mismanagement has hindered its progress.”
CNG said the north, which accounts for a significant portion of Nigeria’s population and economic activity, is shamefully underserved in terms of electricity infrastructure and distribution.
“The region relies on only two 330kV lines while Lagos alone benefits from eight power lines. This disparity reflects a pattern of long-standing neglect and imbalance in national power infrastructure investment.”
It noted with dismay that the current DisCo load allocation is alarmingly skewed against the north.
“DisCos operating across the north—including Jos (60 MW), Kaduna (50 MW), Kano (20 MW) and Yola (30 MW) out of the existing 4,249 MW capacity. In stark contrast, Lagos’s Eko and Ikeja DisCos cumulatively receive about 1,400 MW, while Ibadan, Benin, Enugu, and Port Harcourt also benefit from significantly higher allocations. This current outage has, in the last 120 hours, pushed industries to the brink of collapse, with businesses suffocating under prolonged power failure.”
CNG therefore called on the federal government, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), northern governors, lawmakers and all relevant stakeholders to immediately expedite efforts to ensure power is restored to the north with a demand for a comprehensive review of the current electricity distribution framework to ensure fair and equitable access to power across all regions.
A former Vice Chancellor of Redeemer’s University, Prof Oyewale Tomori, has urged the Federal Government to put in the necessary work for its reforms to produce quick positive results that will assuage the suffering and hardship of ordinary Nigerians.
The eminent virologist was a guest on the Friday edition of Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political programme aired on Channels Television.
According to him, Nigerians have been patient enough in the last 22 months since the administration of President Bola Tinubu introduced its twin policies of petrol subsidy removal and unification of the foreign exchange.
Tomori said, “We must not think of the immediate but long term. Where are we going? Where are all these economic policies leading us? Is it going to be better than what we have? If it is, then we need to be patient.
“There are measles spots of the good things they are doing. We must let those things continue and improve on them rather than say this government is not this, this government is not that.
“It is easy to destroy but it takes a long time to rebuild. It is easy to tell Nigerians: ‘Be patient, be patient’. We’ve been patient all along. I hope the government people are also listening that there is a time limit to patience.
“People must begin to see the effect of what you are doing and making a change in their lives, positive changes. When that happens, this government or any government will get the support of the people.
“But when you tell me to be patient when I have black hair and by the time I have grey hairs you are still telling me to be patient, then I will have to say what else am I waiting for?
“There is the need for patience but also there is the need to accelerate certain things so that people can live well.”
The professor urged the government to address the issues of security and electricity and make the environment conducive for people to live and practice what they know.
Tomori challenged state governments to rise to the occasion and be beneficial to the people.
“We should see more from state governments, they should bring the facilities next to the people. They come into Abuja to collect money but nobody monitors what they do with the money,” he said.
“As we are putting pressure on the Federal Government, we should put pressure on the state governments, and get them to do the work.
“I’ve been to different states and nothing has changed. We have flyovers and fly-unders but how is that affecting the people? Look at the problems of the people, put your money there, and solve those problems. That is the relevance we are talking about. State governments are not relevant to their people,” he added.
The cryptocurrency market is stabilising after a turbulent start to the week, gaining nearly $89 billion and pushing the total market cap to $2.61 trillion.
Bitcoin rebounded above $80,000, with analysts suggesting a breakout past $82,761 could lead to $85,000, supported by strong investor confidence.
In the U.S., Speaker Mike Johnson urged patience, saying, “People need to be patient in waiting to see what President Trump was planning for the economy.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reassured investors, stating, “The recent market volatility was a transitory period, not a trend or a long-term one.”
Earlier in the week, crypto markets saw nearly $1 billion in liquidations as Bitcoin and Ethereum hit monthly lows.
However, stability returned, and in the past 24 hours, total liquidations reached $384.4 million—$138.2 million from long positions and $246.2 million from short positions.
Despite the recovery, analysts remain cautious. While reduced geopolitical risks and trade tensions have helped, inflation data, Federal Reserve policies, and ongoing global uncertainties could still impact markets.
The coming weeks will determine whether the market sustains its gains or faces renewed volatility.
In a move to support Nigeria’s transition to renewable energy, global technology giant Huawei has collaborated with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service and the Ministry of Power to equip Nigerian civil servants with essential skills in the green energy sector.
The two-day training programme theme “Green Energy and Solar Power Training” held in Abuja, targeted Directors of Engineering Departments across various ministries and agencies, aiming to enhance their knowledge of solar energy technologies and further champion its adoption in Nigeria. Participants were trained in making informed decisions on solar product selection, system maintenance, and ensuring energy efficiency in government operations.
Speaking at the opening of the training, Minister of Power Chief Adebayo Adelabu, represented by Permanent Secretary Alhaji Mahumuda Mamman, highlighted Huawei’s critical role in advancing renewable energy solutions.
“Huawei, as a global leader in technology and innovation, has been instrumental in making solar energy more efficient, scalable, and accessible,” Adelabu stated.
“Their involvement in this programme reflects their commitment not only to technological advancement but also to the education and empowerment of Nigeria’s energy leaders.”
Adelabu expressed confidence that the training would equip participants with valuable skills that would benefit their careers and contribute to Nigeria’s goal of energy independence and sustainability.
“The success of our energy transition depends on collaboration—between government, industry, and the technology sector,” he added.
“By working together, we can develop the infrastructure, policies, and human capital needed to accelerate Nigeria’s shift to a green energy economy.”
In his welcome remarks,Huawei Board Director Jim Zhang underscored the company’s longstanding presence in Nigeria, emphasising its contributions to the country’s digital and energy sectors.
“A lot of people know Huawei for our equipment, headsets, and laptops. However, we also provide digital power solutions, smart photovoltaic (PV) systems, and energy storage solutions (ESS) in Nigeria,” Zhang said.
He noted that Huawei has been in Nigeria for 26 years, operating two headquarters in Lagos and Abuja, alongside a training centre, an operations centre, and an innovation hub.
“We have already supplied nearly 100 megawatts of power through our smart PV and ESS systems in Nigeria,” Zhang revealed.
“We also collaborate with several universities, offering training programmes for students and professionals.”
Zhang reaffirmed Huawei’s commitment to working closely with the Nigerian government and businesses to address electricity challenges and enhance energy efficiency.
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, represented by Permanent Secretary Dr Danjuma Usman Kalba, commended Huawei’s efforts in training civil servants. She stressed the importance of institutionalising such initiatives to ensure continuous capacity building in the public sector.
“We cannot thank Huawei enough for making itself available and organising this training,” Walson-Jack said.
“We hope this will become a continuous initiative within the civil service.”
She further emphasised the economic and environmental benefits of renewable energy, urging ministries and agencies to align their strategies with global sustainability policies.
“The world is increasingly focusing on climate change and its impact. It is essential that Nigeria aligns with global renewable energy policies,” she said.
“I encourage participants to seize this opportunity to understand solar energy systems, particularly their maintenance and practical applications.”
The 2-day training program features technical sessions tailored to enhance participants knowledge and capabilities in solar power, as well as site visits to Huawei-implemented project sites as part of the effort to equip participants with practical knowledge and drive the nation towards a sustainable and energy-efficient future.