Power outages that have persisted for months across multiple local government areas in Kebbi State are crippling households and small businesses, according to residents and business owners. The blackout, described as “unending” by community members, has left many areas without electricity for weeks, prompting complaints about deteriorating living conditions and mounting economic hardship.
The Media Talk Africa reports that the chronic power failure has become one of the state’s most pressing challenges. In Badariya, frozen‑food vendor Musa Abdullahi said the lack of electricity has forced him to discard perishable stock, resulting in heavy losses. “I cannot afford a solar system that can run my fridge and other appliances. I am losing customers every day because I have no way to preserve my goods,” he explained.
Similar concerns were voiced by a shop owner in the Kara district of Birnin Kebbi, who noted a sharp decline in 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), the franchise operator responsible for electricity transmission and distribution in Kebbi, Kaduna, Sokoto and Zamfara states, has faced repeated criticism for load‑shedding, unstable supply and inadequate allocation to the region. The company attributes the problems to low power allocation from the national grid, transmission constraints and revenue shortfalls, citing these factors as the cause of frequent interruptions.
In early April, Kebbi State Governor approved the formation of a Multi‑Stakeholder Committee to engage KAEDCO on the persistent electricity challenges. The committee, created after a town‑hall meeting that highlighted “epileptic” and low power supply, was tasked with verifying the volume of electricity delivered versus payments made, reviewing billing compliance and identifying operational bottlenecks. The state set a two‑week deadline for the committee’s report, effective from 16 April 2026. As of this week, the report remains unpublished, leaving residents without clear solutions.
State Governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yahaya Sarki, issued a public admonition to KAEDCO, urging immediate action: “KEDCO, wake up! People have been in darkness for days, this is unacceptable. Please act now. Your culture of silence is unbearable.” The call has resonated with communities such as Kawara, where a damaged transformer has kept the area without power for months, and with residents along the Gesse‑to‑Rugga axis who report over a month of continuous blackout.
The ongoing outage has also affected parts of Birnin Kebbi, including the GRA and Kara feeders, where supply remains unstable or absent. Many households consider solar power but find the cost of systems capable of running refrigeration and other essential appliances prohibitive.
Earlier this year, the state government suspended its monthly N150 million support to KAEDCO, citing persistent service failures. Officials said the suspension reflects continued resident complaints over unreliable electricity across Kebbi State.
The prolonged power outage highlights systemic infrastructure neglect and raises questions about the effectiveness of recent state interventions. Stakeholders await the committee’s findings and any forthcoming measures to restore reliable electricity to the affected communities.
