Kebbi: Residents groan as blackout worsens, businesses under threat

Power outages in parts of Kebbi State have persisted for months, leaving communities in prolonged darkness, crippling businesses, worsening living conditions and deepening economic hardship across affected areas.

Residents across multiple local government areas have decried that the situation has gone beyond occasional power failure, describing it as an unending blackout that has paralyzed homes, shops, and small businesses.

DAILY POST gathered that the recurring power outage has become one of the most pressing challenges in the state, with many communities reporting little or no electricity supply for weeks.

Small business owners say the situation is severely affecting their livelihoods, particularly those who depend on electricity for cooling systems, cold storage, and daily operations.

A shop owner in Badariya, Musa Abdullahi, who sells frozen foods and beverages, said the blackout had forced him into heavy losses, adding that he has been unable to preserve perishable goods due to the prolonged lack of electricity supply.

“I cannot afford a solar system that can carry my fridge and other appliances. I am losing customers every day because I have no way to preserve my goods,” he said.

Another business owner in the Kara area of Birnin Kebbi lamented declining sales and rising operational costs.

“Business has dropped seriously. Without light, customers don’t come like before. Even buying fuel for the generator is too expensive for small traders like us,” she said.

Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, KAEDCO, which serves as the primary electricity distribution company covering Kebbi State under its franchise area, alongside Kaduna, Sokoto, and Zamfara, has for years remained the main operator responsible for transmitting and distributing power to residents of the state.

Despite its statutory role in ensuring steady electricity supply, the company has repeatedly come under criticism over persistent load shedding, unstable distribution, and inadequate power allocation to Kebbi communities.

KAEDCO has previously attributed its poor supply to low power allocation from the national grid, transmission constraints, and revenue shortfalls, factors it says have continued to cause frequent electricity interruptions across its franchise areas, including Kebbi State.

In response to the worsening situation, the Kebbi State Governor in early April approved the constitution of a Multi-Stakeholders Committee to engage KAEDCO over the lingering electricity challenges.

The decision followed an intensive town hall meeting involving stakeholders and KAEDCO representatives, where issues of epileptic and low power supply in the state were discussed.

The committee was mandated to examine the actual quantum of electricity supplied to Kebbi State in relation to payments made and services rendered, as well as to review billing compliance issues and other operational challenges affecting distribution.

However, DAILY POST gathered that the committee is yet to submit its official report, despite being given a clear timeline by the state government.

The government had directed the committee to submit its findings within two weeks, effective from April 16, 2026.

Weeks after the deadline, there has been no public release of the report, leaving residents uncertain about any concrete solution.

Reacting to the development, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Kebbi State Governor, Yahaya Sarki, issued a strong statement, calling for urgent action from the electricity distribution company.

“KEDCO, wake up! People have been in darkness for days, this is unacceptable. Please act now. Your culture of silence is unbearable,” he was quoted as saying.

The statement has generated widespread reactions, with residents across affected communities sharing similar accounts of prolonged blackout.

In Kawara community, residents said they have been without electricity for months due to a damaged transformer, with no immediate intervention from authorities.

Many also complained that the cost of solar power systems capable of running refrigerators and other appliances is beyond their financial reach.

Findings by DAILY POST indicate that the ongoing blackout is largely attributed to neglect and poor infrastructure maintenance over time.

The power outage has also affected several parts of Birnin Kebbi, including GRA and Kara feeders, where supply remains unstable or completely absent.

Communities along the Gesse to Rugga axis also report over a month of continuous blackout, further worsening living and economic conditions.

Meanwhile, the state government had earlier suspended its monthly N150 million support to the electricity distribution company, citing poor service delivery.

Officials said the decision followed persistent complaints from residents and businesses over unreliable electricity supply across Kebbi State.