The residents of Kwara State for past three days have been experiencing blackout due to the strike action embarked upon by workers of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

The blackout according to investigations might not be unconnected with the ongoing protest by the workers of PHCN against the takeover of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) by Manitoba Hydro, a Canadian firm.

A visit of our correspondent to some of their district offices at Challenge, Adewole and Tanke areas of Ilorin Tuesday, showed that, the officers were deserted as there was no staff on duty.

Further checks revealed that economic and social activities have become paralysed in the state capital as a result of the development.

Also, reports from other major towns of the state, namely Offa, Lafiaji, Patigi, Omu-Aran, Jebba among others, showed the situation was the same.

All efforts to speak with the leadership of National Union of Electricity Employees proved abortive as they were said to be moving around the power installations in the state to ensure compliance.

However, some of the residents who spoke with newsmen appealed to the Federal Government to rise up in order to move the nation forward.

They said it was disheartening that in the 20th century, Nigeria cannot boast of constant power supply.

The residents who decried that a lot of money by the successive administrations have been sunk to power generation in the country said that, it was high time the government got it right so as to accelerate the socio-economic growth of the nation.