By Fatima Saka
Senator Lawal Usman, representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, has raised concern over prolonged electricity outages across several communities in his constituency, describing access to power as a critical lifeline for economic and social survival.
Speaking on his recent constituency projects, during an interface with the newsmen in Abuja, the senator disclosed that many communities in Kaduna Central had been without electricity for over two years due to the absence or collapse of transformers, a situation he said severely disrupted daily life and livelihoods.
According to him, the decision to procure and install multiple transformers across the district was informed by the “harsh realities on ground,” where entire communities were plunged into darkness, stalling small businesses, artisanship, and basic household activities.
“Light is everything. Without electricity, people cannot live meaningful lives. Some areas have been without power for more than two years simply because there were no functional transformers,” Usman said.
He explained that existing power infrastructure was grossly inadequate, noting that in some areas, a single 500KVA transformer was expected to serve as many as 20,000 people, a situation he described as unsustainable and unfair to ordinary citizens.
The senator stressed that electricity projects have a direct impact on the common man, enabling economic activities such as welding, tailoring, and other small-scale industries that cannot rely solely on solar power.
While acknowledging the Kaduna State Government’s initiative to deploy solar-powered streetlights in some communities, Usman said solar energy alone was insufficient to meet domestic and industrial needs.
“Solar is good for street lighting, but it cannot power home appliances or run industrial sewing machines and workshops. That is why we invested heavily in transformers to restore stable electricity,” he added.
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Usman said his electricity intervention complements other constituency projects, including education and infrastructure, as part of a broader effort to improve living standards in Kaduna Central.
He reaffirmed his commitment to prioritising power infrastructure in subsequent budgets, describing electricity as a foundation for development, security, and economic growth in the senatorial district.
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