By Musa Abdullahi Sufi, Development Journalist
Your Excellencies,
I write this letter with deep concern about the prolonged power outage in Northern Nigeria caused by the grid failure affecting the region. For days, millions across the North have been left in total darkness, while other regions of the country have continued to enjoy stable electricity.
This unfortunate situation is not just about technical challenges—it reflects deeper issues of disunity, lack of strategic coordination, and ineffective governance in the North.
It is troubling that the governors of the 19 Northern states have not shown a united front in addressing this crisis.
Instead of collaborating on sustainable, long-term solutions, many Northern leaders rely on outdated approaches that have failed repeatedly. As the darkness deepens, the need for strong leadership, modern problem-solving skills, and coordinated action has become critical to save the region from further decline.
Why Northern Leadership Is Falling Short
Your Excellencies, the current crisis reveals more than just power failure—it exposes the governance and leadership gaps across the region. While other parts of Nigeria have made progress in managing challenges like energy distribution, the North remains trapped in ineffective methods that neither solve problems nor inspire hope for the future. Among some prominent reasons for this failure include;
1. Disunity Among Northern Governors: The absence of unity and collaborative governance among Northern states has undermined the region’s ability to address shared challenges. While most of the other regions operates with greater coordination, Arewa leaders struggle to pool resources or align their priorities.
2. Lack of Strategic Problem-Solving: Leadership in the North often focuses on implementing outdated policies that have repeatedly failed, instead of embracing innovative problem-solving techniques. This crisis calls for leaders with the skills to analyze root causes, design sustainable solutions, and adapt modern governance practices.
3. Reactive Rather Than Proactive Leadership: Responses to challenges are often reactive—short-term fixes instead of building long-term capacity to prevent future failures. Power supply, infrastructure development, and social services need proactive, forward-thinking policies, not emergency interventions that collapse as soon as they are deployed.
4. Dependence on Outdated Solutions: There is an over-reliance on government grants, quick fixes, and ad-hoc electricity arrangements, rather than creating independent regional energy solutions. This lack of innovation has left the North vulnerable to national grid failures, unlike other regions that are increasingly exploring alternative energy sources.
Why Must the North Remain in Darkness While Others Have Light?
It is perplexing that Northern Nigeria, which is endowed with vast natural resources—such as gas, sunlight, and wind—remains in darkness. Arewa states have the potential to lead in energy innovation, but due to poor leadership coordination, these resources are underutilized. The prolonged blackout symbolizes the larger failures in governance and development across the region.
Other regions have embraced modern energy strategies, working together to achieve decentralization, diversify their power sources, and invest in renewable energy. Yet the North, with a population that depends heavily on power for trade, agriculture, and small businesses, remains trapped by its inability to act collectively. This failure weakens not only economic productivity but also the livelihoods of millions.
Call for Leadership Training and Skilled Leaders
Your Excellencies, it is time to accept that leadership training and capacity building are non-negotiable. Governing in today’s world requires more than titles—it demands knowledge, skills, and a mindset ready for innovation and problem-solving. The North’s challenges cannot be resolved by those relying on old methods that no longer serve the region’s needs. Some areas include;
Leadership Development for Governors: There is a need for structured leadership training programs that equip Northern governors with essential problem-solving skills, strategic thinking, and the ability to lead collaboratively across state boundaries.
Recruiting Skilled Experts: It is imperative to bring skilled professionals—especially in energy, infrastructure, and policy planning—into key leadership positions. Governors must engage with technocrats, innovators, and business leaders to formulate practical, data-driven solutions.
Strengthening Regional Governance: The Northern Governors’ Forum must be revamped to serve as a functional platform for joint planning, resource sharing, and monitoring implementation. Leaders must act beyond political affiliations and work for the common good of the region.
Strategic Solutions to Address the Power Crisis
To avoid future blackouts and restore progress, the Northern governors must embrace the following strategies:
1. Invest in Renewable Energy:
o Harness solar, wind, and biomass energy, leveraging the North’s natural resources. Collaborative efforts with private investors can create decentralized power plants in rural and urban areas.
o Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) can expedite energy projects, ensuring rapid implementation and improved electricity access.
2. Create an Independent Northern Power Grid:
o The Northern states should explore developing a regional power grid independent of the national grid to reduce vulnerability. States in the region can jointly build and manage power plants that ensure energy security.
o This initiative will enhance energy self-sufficiency, attract investors, and reduce reliance on the national grid.
3. Build Energy Infrastructure and Reduce Losses:
o Invest in energy infrastructure, including transmission lines, transformers, and smart grids, to prevent system breakdowns.
o Strengthen oversight to curb energy theft, smuggling of power-generating equipment, and vandalism of electrical infrastructure.
4. Engage in Regional Collaboration:
o Form a regional energy task force made up of technical experts from the North to plan and oversee power-related projects.
o Partner with federal and international organizations to secure funding and technical support for long-term energy projects.
A Call for Unity, Innovation, and Accountability
Your Excellencies, the crisis we face is an opportunity to rewrite the narrative of leadership in Northern Nigeria. The power outage is a symptom of a larger governance failure that demands urgent correction.
A united, coordinated, and forward-thinking leadership approach is needed to move Arewa out of darkness and into a future of progress.
The people of the North deserve better than prolonged blackouts and economic stagnation. The time for excuses is over. It is time for Northern governors to rise above political differences, embrace modern governance techniques, and work collaboratively to secure a better future for the region.
Your Excellencies, the North has the potential to lead Nigeria in many areas, including energy, agriculture, and innovation. But this can only happen with skilled leaders who are willing to adopt new strategies, empower experts, and implement sustainable solutions.
The future of the North—and the wellbeing of its people—depends on the decisions you make today.
We cannot afford to leave the North in darkness any longer. It is time to act.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Musa Abdullahi Sufi
Leadership and Development Trainer
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