A storm of public frustration swept across Kebbi on Tuesday as a high-powered panel set up by Governor Nasir Idris launched statewide town hall meetings to probe the persistent electricity woes blamed on Kaduna Electric Distribution Company.
Leading the charge, panel chairman Alhaji Usman Abdullahi Gwandu said the committee had fanned out to key emirates, seeking “fatherly counsel” from royal fathers while opening the floor to residents and KEDCO officials in a bold push to uncover the root causes of the state’s erratic power supply.
“The governor has given us a clear mandate—find out why Kebbi is in darkness and chart a lasting solution,” Gwandu declared, hinting at tough engagements ahead with KEDCO management.
Tempers flared as traditional rulers and community voices accused the power firm of failing the state. The Emir of Yauri, Alhaji Zayyanu Abdullahi, alongside representatives of the Zuru Emirate, described the situation as “sabotage,” alleging that a large chunk of the crisis stems from negligence and poor service delivery by company personnel.
Calls for urgent reform echoed through the halls, with the Zuru Emirate urging the government to roll out a four-year electricity master plan to end the cycle of blackouts.
Residents did not hold back—lamenting estimated billing, abandoned infrastructure, and what they described as KEDCO’s refusal to replace damaged equipment, a responsibility they say has now shifted unfairly to communities and government.
Amid the heated exchanges, security officials weighed in. The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps warned citizens to safeguard public power assets, stressing that vandalism only deepens the crisis.
In response, KEDCO’s Yauri District office, represented by Engineer Iliiya Danjuma, acknowledged the grievances and promised to relay them to top management for urgent action.
As the town hall sessions continue, all eyes are on whether this probe will finally spark the long-awaited turnaround—or fade like past promises in the dark.
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