Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Residents across several Local Government Areas in Cross River State have raised serious concerns over persistent and erratic electricity supply, highlighting the impact on households, businesses and everyday life. The complaints come amid growing frustration that inadequate power provision is hindering development and increasing living costs across both urban centres and rural communities.
According to community leaders and residents, many towns and villages within the affected local government areas have experienced prolonged outages, sometimes lasting several days without any formal explanation from the responsible authorities. Households say the unreliability of the grid has forced many families to rely heavily on personal generators, significantly increasing fuel expenditure for already strained budgets.
Business owners in markets, small enterprises and service centres say the inconsistent electricity supply has directly affected productivity and profitability. Refrigeration-dependent businesses such as food vendors and cold stores are particularly hard hit, with losses reported due to spoilage during extended power interruptions. Artisans and small manufacturers also describe operational setbacks, noting that erratic power undermines their ability to meet production schedules and serve customers reliably.
Students and educational institutions have similarly expressed discontent. Learners preparing for exams and academic activities say frequent outages disrupt study routines, while schools that lack adequate backup power sources are forced to curtail evening classes or invest heavily in generators. Medical facilities, especially primary health centres, also face challenges maintaining basic services when grid supply fails, compromising storage of medications and operation of essential equipment.
Residents attribute the poor supply to what they describe as ageing infrastructure, inadequate maintenance of equipment and insufficient generation capacity fed into the national grid. Some communities report receiving only a few hours of supply daily, with no predictable schedule, leaving households in constant uncertainty. Others allege that feeders serving their areas are often prioritised lower compared with more urbanised or politically prominent localities.
Cross River State Electricity Distribution Company (DISCO), which is responsible for power distribution in the region, has acknowledged network challenges but attributes outages to broader national grid instability and transmission constraints. The DISCO says fluctuations at the transmission level and generation shortfalls nationwide have cascaded into more frequent outages at the local level. Company representatives state that efforts are underway to stabilise supply where feasible, but they warn that systemic issues beyond their immediate control remain significant.
Local government officials have called for intervention by both state and federal authorities to address the power situation. Some lawmakers are urging the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission and relevant ministries to expedite investments in transmission upgrades and explore decentralized power solutions for underserved areas. Proposals discussed include increased deployment of solar mini‑grids, incentives for private investment in rural electrification, and improved maintenance regimes for existing infrastructure.
Communities have also petitioned elected representatives to hold service hearings with the DISCO and the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) stakeholders to demand clear supply roadmaps and accountability for promised improvements. Residents argue that access to reliable electricity is not merely a convenience but a fundamental enabler of economic growth and quality of life.
Civil society groups in Cross River have called for transparent communication from power providers about supply schedules, fault resolution times and infrastructure development plans. They emphasise that public engagement and information dissemination are essential for managing expectations and fostering collaborative solutions.
The frustration in Cross River reflects broader national challenges within Nigeria’s power sector, where decades of under‑investment, regulatory uncertainty, and infrastructure decay have constrained reliable supply. While policymakers have articulated long‑term reform agendas, including generation diversification and private sector participation, many communities continue to experience daily hardships due to inadequate electricity.
For now, residents in affected Local Government Areas are urging quicker, concrete action rather than long‑term promises. Their appeals highlight the immediate need for improved supply, maintenance of distribution lines, and investments that address both short‑term outages and long‑term sector stability.
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