Gombe: Ali JC’s stalled power project sparks outrage in Talase

• Residents accuse lawmaker of abandoning project, warn of 2027 electoral consequences

From Abdulrazaq Mungadi

Residents and business owners in Talase, the headquarters of Balanga Local Government Area (LGA) in Gombe State, have raised concerns over the suspension of a rural electrification project initiated by the member representing Billiri/Balanga Federal Constituency, Dr Ali Isa JC.

The constituency project, described as a long-overdue intervention, has been inactive for over two months, stirring frustration among residents who say they have endured nearly two decades without electricity from the national grid.

“We’ve been off the national grid for 19 years. Politicians come with promises every election season, but once they win, they vanish. Ali JC gave us hope, but he’s beginning to follow the same path,” said Yakubu Ayuba Talase during a media interaction.

He explained that the absence of electricity has crippled economic activities and development in the area. “Immediately after the flag-off, the contractors started work and installed poles and transformers. But suddenly, without explanation, they stopped work and moved their equipment. Since then, there’s been no update. The lawmaker has not visited, and there’s no constituency office here to lodge our complaints. There’s a communication gap between us,” he said.

Ayuba warned that the fate of the project could influence the 2027 general elections, not just for Ali JC but for other political hopefuls in the area.

Echoing the frustration, another resident, Musa Adamu Galadima (Musa Tela), said, “I run a tailoring shop, and the blackout has affected us for years. We work only during the day and close early. Generators are expensive to run, and customers can’t afford the extra charges due to economic hardship.”

He revealed that he had to let go of most of his apprentices due to dwindling income. “We don’t need a town hall meeting to tell politicians what we need in 2027. Power is our top demand. Our businesses are collapsing,” he added.

Sulaiman Idris Talase, who runs a soft drinks shop, also lamented, “I spend ₦10,000 to ₦20,000 on ice blocks daily just to stay in business. No electricity means our fridges don’t work, and without cold drinks, customers stop coming.”

He noted that the project had brought initial excitement. “A brand-new transformer and poles were already installed in my area before the suspension of the project, which has spread disappointment across every nook and cranny of our affected communities.”

When contacted for comment, Ali JC acknowledged the suspension of the project but attributed the delay to funding setbacks affecting contractors nationwide. He said, “I have personally engaged the contractor in the last few days. We understand that most contractors are facing financial challenges from the federal government. But we at the National Assembly have intervened through our various committees, and steps are being taken to ensure contractors return to site.”

Meanwhile, in a parallel intervention, the Gombe State Government has flagged off a 620KW small hydropower-solar hybrid project at the Balanga Dam to directly tackle the region’s chronic electricity shortages. The initiative is expected to provide sustainable energy and reduce decades of power deprivation in the LGA.