Precisely one year ago, this newspaper published an editorial titled “Excessive heat in Lafia: Why Nasarawa State Government must pay attention.” The editorial highlighted the dangers of heatwaves, including heatstroke, dehydration, and exacerbation of chronic conditions like asthma, arthritis, and diabetes. It also noted that excessive heat can impair cognitive function and physical coordination, particularly affecting elderly individuals, young children, pregnant women, and those with certain medical conditions.

In the editorial, we questioned how the Nasarawa State Government could address this issue. We suggested that the government could alleviate excessive heat by ensuring a reliable electricity supply in Lafia through the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC). This would mitigate the suffering caused by heatwaves, as residents currently receive only a few hours of electricity daily despite national grid improvements.

Now we urged the Nasarawa State Government to prioritize citizens’ health and well-being. Additionally, we called on Governor Abdullahi Sule to expedite the activation of the L15 substation along Shendam Road and upgrade the L14 and L16 substations along Jos and Makurdi roads, respectively. This initiative was especially important during Ramadan, emphasizing the need for magnanimity during this period
The people of Lafia face significant challenges in the electricity distribution system, including epileptic power supply and frequent blackouts due to receiving only 7 megawatts, far below the required 20 megawatts. Overloading of feeders and high estimated bills, with some paying up to N45,000 monthly, exacerbate the issue. The lack of prepaid metering forces households to use analogue meters, leading to arbitrary billing. The Nasarawa State Government must address these issues urgently, as they impact citizens’ health and wellbeing. With the state’s current financial situation, the time for action is now, especially given Governor Abdullahi Sule’s admission about the financial position of the state.