Power Cuts Further Crippling North West

Timfuchi Aaron

Increasing powers cuts are further crippling the North West region already battling with the effects of the Anglophone crisis over five years on. For more than a year now, the population of most parts of the North West region has not had the luxury of enjoying a stable supply of electricity.

The electricity supply in most divisional headquarters is epileptic. In some areas, locals say they can go for months without having electricity. Even when it is available, they say, it can be for just a few hours.

Inhabitants in the divisions have been plunged into months of darkness affecting businesses and households.

The realities in Bui, Menchum and Mezam divisions just like in the other divisions of the region are regrettable. “If not of this solar system that we are using, we would have gone back to our bush lamps”, a local in Wum complained.

In Kumbo, Bui Division, lights went off on the 28th of May 2021 and up till December 2021, the people of the division didn’t have electricity. Today, the people of Kumbo have electricity though it’s not stable, it’s better.

“Even the community radio which gives us information is hardly on air because of lack of power supply. At times we are clueless of what is happening in the country,” a resident of Kumbo told MMI
In Bamenda, locals say the electricity supply is epileptic. The say the supply is comes on and off, causing foodstuffs to get bad in the refrigerator.

The epileptic supply of electricity has provoked fresh calls for the government to engage in the construction of the Menchum Dam. Some North West people believe that if the project is realised, because it can remedy the situation.

The epileptic electricity supply started in the region when separatist fighters destroyed one of the power plants supplying electricity in the region. Since then, officials of the electricity distribution company have been using alternative means which warrants them to ration the supply.