Residents of Mika Sabon-Gida community in Pupule ‘B’ Ward, Yorro Local Government Area of Taraba State, have raised the alarm over a prolonged power outage that has left the community without electricity for more than four months.

The residents, who spoke with DAILY POST, appealed to the Taraba State Government, Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC), elected representatives, philanthropists and other relevant stakeholders to urgently intervene and restore power to the area.

The prolonged blackout, reportedly caused by a faulty transformer, has severely disrupted economic activities and negatively affected the livelihoods and general well-being of residents.

A community leader, Jauro Baki, while appealing to the authorities and well-meaning individuals for support, called for urgent action to address the electricity crisis.

“We are calling on the state government, YEDC and other well-to-do individuals and our elected politicians to come to our aid by ensuring that power is restored to our community.”

For many residents, the impact of the blackout extends beyond the inconvenience of living without electricity, as businesses that depend on regular power supply have been forced to shut down or operate at significantly reduced capacity.

Andrew Helikiah, another resident, said the prolonged outage had contributed to the relocation of some young people from the community after their businesses became increasingly difficult to sustain.

“Because of this, most of our young men and women have relocated from this community to somewhere else because their small businesses are no longer functioning due to the prolonged power outage,” he said.

Also speaking on behalf of the residents, Alhaji Babangida Aliyu Mika Mika, a community representative and former Special Adviser to the Executive Chairman of Yorro Local Government Area, described the situation as increasingly unbearable.

Mika said the faulty transformer was particularly important because it serves not only Mika Sabon-Gida but also provides a critical electricity link to communities around Yorro and Zing Local Government Areas.

He therefore urged the authorities to consider the electricity crisis a matter of wider public interest and urgently provide a replacement transformer.

“Our businesses are dying, and the economic growth of our people has been completely undermined. We have endured over four months without a functional power supply.

“We are calling on the relevant authorities to facilitate the immediate provision of a new transformer to bring life back into our community’s economy,” he said.

Residents said families and business owners had been placed under considerable economic pressure as a result of the blackout, with many forced to depend on alternative sources of electricity, which they described as expensive and unsustainable.

For small-scale businesses, artisans and other economic operators, the absence of reliable electricity has made it increasingly difficult to maintain productivity, operate efficiently and sustain livelihoods.

The community is consequently calling on the Taraba State Government, electricity authorities, elected representatives and other stakeholders to treat the situation as an urgent public-interest matter.

They urged the authorities to facilitate the immediate replacement of the faulty transformer and restore electricity to Mika Sabon-Gida and surrounding communities.

According to the residents, restoring power would not only ease the hardship currently being experienced in Pupule ‘B’ Ward but would also help revive economic activities in neighbouring communities along the Yorro-Zing axis.

Alhaji Babangida Mika also expressed appreciation to government representatives and other stakeholders for their previous interventions in providing essential services aimed at improving the welfare of communities across Yorro LGA.

He, however, appealed for renewed and urgent action to address the electricity crisis, stressing that residents could no longer afford to remain in darkness after more than four months without a functional power supply.

Meanwhile, a senior YEDC officer in Taraba State, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the company had concluded plans to provide the community with a new transformer.

The officer, who directed our reporter to the company’s headquarters in Yola, the capital of Adamawa State, said YEDC was aware of the situation and was working to restore electricity to the community.

“YEDC is aware that the transformer in Mika Sabon-Gida community in Yorro Local Government Council has been down, and the company has been working round the clock to replace it.

“Though I am not in a position to speak to the press on the issue because our spokesperson is based in Yola, I can assure you that plans are already in the pipeline to restore power to the community,” he said.

 

Lagos State House of Assembly has called for stronger community-based security measures and tougher prosecution of individuals involved in the vandalism of public infrastructure across the state.

The lawmakers made the call during Monday’s plenary, urging the state government to strengthen and adequately equip the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps and other community security structures to improve surveillance and prevent the destruction of roads, bridges and other public facilities.

The Assembly also stressed that the prosecution of infrastructure vandals should extend beyond those who physically remove public property to individuals and businesses that purchase, sell or profit from stolen government assets.

The lawmakers’ position followed a motion moved by the member representing Ikorodu II, Moshood Aro, who raised concerns over the increasing vandalism of public infrastructure, particularly in FESTAC.

Aro said the destruction of infrastructure funded with taxpayers’ money effectively imposed additional financial pressure on residents because government would have to spend more money repairing or replacing damaged facilities.

“It baffles me that some residents of Lagos ought to be experiencing this kind of situation, knowing that we are paying for these facilities with our money,” he said.

He argued that the government should not be forced to repeatedly commit public funds to infrastructure because facilities already provided for residents were being vandalised.

“Public funds are being used to provide these facilities, and when they are damaged or vandalised, public funds are again required to repair them. This places an additional burden on taxpayers,” Aro added.

The lawmaker called for increased scrutiny of individuals and businesses involved in the scrap trade, particularly those who purchase materials suspected to have been removed from public infrastructure.

According to him, disrupting the market for stolen government property was essential to addressing the root of infrastructure vandalism.

Aro urged security agencies and relevant authorities to ensure that suspects arrested over the destruction of public facilities were properly prosecuted.

“Persons arrested for vandalising public infrastructure should not be released without proper prosecution and, where found guilty, should be sentenced accordingly,” he said.

He further called for closer cooperation among government agencies, security organisations and communities to develop a more effective response to the problem.

“We, as citizens and representatives of the people, need to take this matter seriously. All the relevant agencies need to sit down, collaborate and respond appropriately to these challenges,” Aro said.

Supporting the motion, the Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, called for stronger enforcement against both vandals and those facilitating the illegal trade in stolen public materials.

Obasa also urged ministries, departments and agencies responsible for environmental and infrastructure enforcement to ensure that relevant laws were properly communicated and effectively implemented.

He advocated increased government support for local security structures, including the Neighbourhood Watch and Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps, arguing that better funding and resources would enable them to identify suspicious activities and prevent criminal acts within communities.

The lawmakers emphasised that the state’s response should combine prevention, surveillance and prosecution, rather than relying solely on arrests after infrastructure has already been damaged.

They said adequately trained and equipped community security personnel could provide valuable intelligence and early warnings, while the police and other relevant agencies would handle criminal investigations and prosecution.

Contributing to the debate, Lawal Olumegbon urged the Lagos State Government to strengthen cooperation with the 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas in tackling infrastructure vandalism at the grassroots.

Similarly, Stephen Ogundipe said the problem extended beyond a particular constituency, noting that communities across Lagos were experiencing the damaging effects of the destruction of public infrastructure.

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has secured the release of all detained students of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, following an EFCC operation in which the students were arrested.

NANS said it intervened to ensure that the affected students could participate in their ongoing examinations.

The intervention, according to a statement issued on behalf of the association on Tuesday by the Chief Press Secretary, Office of the National Financial Secretary, NANS, Kamaldeen Ilias A, was led by the National Financial Secretary of NANS, Alao John Oluwadamilola, alongside the Student Union President, Fagbemi Nurudeen Ojo, and other members of the student union cabinet.

“NANS delegation engaged relevant authorities after receiving concerns over the detention of students of the institution, with particular emphasis on protecting the students’ academic interests during the ongoing examination period,” the statement read.

According to NANS, the intervention was necessitated by concerns that the detention could disrupt the students’ ability to sit for examinations for which they had prepared.

Following the engagement, the detained students were released, allowing them to return to their academic responsibilities and participate in their examinations.

NANS commended the Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), particularly the Zonal Director, ACE I Haauwa Garba Ringim, for what the association described as an understanding of the concerns raised by the student body.

“The development underscored the importance of constructive engagement between student leaders and law enforcement agencies, particularly in situations where investigations could affect students’ academic progression,” the student body said.

NANS maintained that while legitimate investigations and the fight against financial crimes remain important, such processes should, where possible, be handled in ways that minimise unnecessary disruption to students’ education.

The association also appreciated the management of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, and other individuals who contributed to facilitating the students’ return to their examinations.

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, have exchanged accusations over the credibility of the August 15 governorship election in the state.

The disagreement followed comments by Oyetola, a former Osun governor and All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain, who said Adeleke should prepare to lose the forthcoming election.

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the North-Central All Progressives Congress, APC, Forum has urged first term governors elected on the platform of the party in the zone to sit up in order to ensure their return for a second term.

The North-Central APC Forum asserted that improved performance by the governors will translate to victory for the party in the forthcoming election.

The APC Forum made the call on Sunday in a statement released by its Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, after a second quarter stakeholders consultative meeting in Abuja.

First term governors in the North-Central, who are seeking re-election in the 2027 election, include Ahmed Ododo, Kogi, Hyacinth Alia, Benue, Mohammad Bago, Niger and Caleb Muftwang, Plateau.

AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Abdullahi Sule, the governors of Kwara and Nasarawa, respectively, the two other states in the North-Central, are rounding off their second terms in office.

The North-Central APC Forum, while expressing a desire for the APC to retain the control of all the states in the zone after the 2027 elections, said the performance of the first term governors will go a long way in determining their chances of re-election.

It urged the governors to step up in the provision of dividends of democracy as the elections approach.

“We urge the first term governors in the North-Central to sit up in the discharge of their duties as the elections draw closer. Our target as the North-Central APC Forum is that the party will continue to retain control of all the states in the zone.

“As leaders of the party in their respective states, we urge the governors to take the lead towards ensuring that the North-Central remains totally under the control of the APC after the elections. The North-Central was the first geopolitical zone to come under the control of one party, APC, and we as stakeholders are proud of the feat.

“As stakeholders and dedicated party men, we declare our resolve to ensure that the North-Central retains its enviable position as the number one APC zone in the country. To this end, we are calling on the first governors to redouble their efforts in the provision of dividends of democracy to the people. We particularly urge them to pay special attention to security, the economy, agriculture, education, youth and women empowerment, and the general welfare of citizens,” the Forum said.

However, the North-Central APC Forum in the same vein commended the governors of Niger and Plateau states for their achievements in office.

The Forum noted that Bago and Muftwang have recorded notable achievements in various sectors, which it said have improved the living conditions of citizens in the two states. It highlighted improved security, economic advancement especially through investment in modernized agriculture, and empowerment programmes initiated by the governors in their states.

The Forum said Bago and Muftwang have prioritized the welfare of workers and implemented policies which have improved business activities, thereby attracting much needed private investment.

“Following the second quarter 2026 assessment of governance in the North-Central, we believe that the governors of Plateau and Niger states, Mohammed Umaru Bago and Caleb Muftwang, respectively, have recorded commendable achievements in various sectors.

“The Bago administration in Niger State has recorded major infrastructure and industrial projects including the 1,000km statewide road network and flyovers, 500-hectare solar farm and industrial park in Diko/Sabon Wuse, the Minna urban renewal and overhead bridge expansion, and the 500-unit housing estate in Kontagora.

“In Plateau State, the Muftwang administration has executed several landmark infrastructure, as well as agricultural and tourism projects, including the 19.7 km Mangu Bypass, the Plateau Potato Value Chain Project, and the remodeling of hospitality and sports centers like the Hill Station Hotel and Rwang Pam Township Stadium.

“Added to these, the administrations have recorded improvements in security and economic empowerment and several other sectors, which we believe would ensure victory for the APC in the 2027 election. Other first term governors in the zone have also made progress, but we urge all of them to do even more as the elections approach. It is our fervent desire that the North-Central retains its pride of place an the number one APC zone in the country at the end of the 2027 elections,” the Forum added.

The APC Forum expressed confidence that, with the strides recorded by Bago and Muftwang, and the performance of other governors, the pledge to deliver six million votes from the North-Central to President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election is on course.

It would be recalled that, in December 2024, the Forum became the first political organization to endorse Tinubu for a second term, pledging six million votes for the President from the North-Central zone.