As hunger, rising cost of living and power outage persist in Kaduna, residents of the State have resorted to corporate begging in a bid to survive.
Reports said there has been total blackout across the State in the past few days, leading to the collapse of small businesses such as barbing and grinding of foodstuffs.
Most operators of these businesses can not afford the cost of petrol owing to the hike in the pump price.
Sadly, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has said the blackout affecting parts of Northern states might persist due to security challenges hindering repairs on critical transmission lines.
TCN also disclosed that despite efforts to restore electricity through alternative means, the situation will not be fully resolved anytime soon.
After waiting for the restoration of power supply across the State to no avail, some residents have resorted to begging just to survive.
Mr. Joseph Musa, who deals in cold sachet water, argued that it is more honourable to beg, in the circumstance, than to steal.
He insisted that there is no harm in begging.
“I go to individuals to help me with anything they have for me to survive. Although I can endure hunger, but my children cannot endure hunger as they begin to cry anytime they feel hungry.”
Also, Mrs. Rose Benjamin, who dresses corporately and stands at a bus stop to beg, noted: “I make sure I dress well to the admiration of people if I am going to the office.
“Some private car owners upon seeing me, always stop to carry me for free. In the process, I stylishly ask them for assistance since my husband has nothing.”
Also, Joel Adegbe, who said he usually approach people he know for assistance, said some residents have been helpful.
“Sometimes I am lucky as some people bless me with money, foodstuffs and other gifts,” he said.
However, Sunday Dare, President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Public Communications, said the Office of National Security Adviser (NSA) is coordinating a joint effort between the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Kaduna Headquarters and the Army to patrol the 330 KV Shiroro-Kaduna lines 1 and 2, which were recently vandalized.
But former Vice President Atiku Abubakar lamented that the current electricity crisis in Nigeria has reached critical levels, particularly affecting the South-East, North-West, and North-East regions, which have faced complete blackouts for the past three weeks.
Atiku, in a post on his verified X handle, urged the government to urgently intervene and restore power to the distressed areas.
Atiku highlighted the necessity for the government agencies responsible for electricity to act swiftly, emphasizing that the current situation demands urgent measures to alleviate the suffering of affected citizens.
He reiterated his belief that his policy proposal, outlined in “My Covenant with Nigerians,” offers a comprehensive plan to address the nation’s long-standing energy challenges.
“An industrial dispute in the capital should not hinder industrial activities across the nation,” he stated, pointing to the urgent need for localized energy solutions.
Atiku also stressed the importance of enhancing Nigeria’s energy infrastructure, calling for investments in both renewable and non-renewable energy sources. He proposed a strategic mix that includes hydro, solar, wind, biofuel, coal, and gas to diversify the country’s energy portfolio.
To facilitate the transition to a more resilient energy system, the former vice president recommended encouraging private investment in the development of mini-grid systems that could eventually integrate into a national super-grid. This, he argued, would provide a sustainable framework for energy distribution across Nigeria.