After four months in darkness, Taraba community cries out over prolonged power outage
Power Outage in Taraba Community Exceeds Four Months
Residents of Mika Sabon-Gida in the Pupule ‘B’ Ward of Yorro Local Government Area, Taraba State, are facing significant challenges due to a power outage that has persisted for over four months.
Community members expressed their frustration in an interview with DAILY POST, calling on the Taraba State Government, Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC), and local representatives to take immediate action to restore electricity in the area.
The outage, attributed to a malfunctioning transformer, has disrupted economic activities and adversely affected the livelihoods of residents. Jauro Baki, a community leader, emphasized the urgency of the situation, urging authorities and philanthropists to assist.
“We are calling on the state government, YEDC, and our elected officials to help us by restoring power to our community,” Baki stated.
The effects of the blackout extend beyond everyday inconveniences. Many local businesses reliant on power have had to cease operations or operate at significantly reduced capacity, leading to financial strain for business owners. Resident Andrew Helikiah highlighted the situation, noting that the lack of electricity has forced some young people to leave the community in search of better opportunities.
“Most of our young men and women have relocated from this community because their small businesses are no longer viable due to the prolonged power outage,” Helikiah said.
Alhaji Babangida Aliyu Mika, a community representative and former Special Adviser to the Yorro Local Government Chairman, described the conditions as increasingly unbearable. He noted that the faulty transformer not only serves Mika Sabon-Gida but also connects power to surrounding areas, making the situation critical.
Mika urged authorities to view the electricity crisis as a pressing public concern and to provide a replacement transformer promptly. “Our businesses are dying, and the economic growth of our people has been completely undermined. We have endured over four months without functional power,” he remarked.
Residents reported that families and small businesses are now facing considerable economic pressure due to reliance on costly alternative energy sources. The absence of reliable electricity is hindering productivity and making it difficult for many to sustain their livelihoods.
Residents are collectively appealing to the Taraba State Government, electricity authorities, and elected officials to prioritize the resolution of the electricity crisis and expedite the replacement of the damaged transformer. They contend that restoring power will alleviate hardships in Pupule ‘B’ Ward and assist in revitalizing economic activities across nearby communities.
Alhaji Babangida Mika acknowledged previous efforts by government representatives to improve community welfare but underscored the need for immediate action concerning the electricity issue, as residents can no longer endure extended outages.
In response, a senior YEDC official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that plans are underway to provide the community with a new transformer. While the official directed inquiries to the company’s headquarters in Yola, he assured that YEDC recognizes the situation and is diligently working to restore power.
“YEDC is aware that the transformer in Mika Sabon-Gida is down, and the company has been working round-the-clock to replace it,” the official said, emphasizing ongoing efforts to address the issue.
