Business Owners Lament Poor Power Supply, High Fuel Price

Some business owners in Kaduna metropolis have lamented the poor power supply and the high fuel prices, which have affected their businesses.
The business owners made this known in separate interviews on Friday in Kaduna.
Abdulmalik Ahmed, who runs a business centre, said maintaining a constant supply of electricity was a challenge.
“Having electricity is luck. This week, there might be light; the next, there might not. We spend N5,000 on electricity every week, totalling N20,000 per month. We have to use generators when there is no light since we cannot afford solar at the moment,” he lamented.
He urged the government to do more to stabilise the power sector and ensure a stable power supply.
Isma’il Ilyasu, a tailor who uses monogram machines for his work, said electricity was critical to his business.
He said, “My work becomes very easy when there is light because paying for electricity is more affordable than buying fuel.
Sometimes I pay N25,000 to N30,000 in a month for electricity because we use irons and other electronic devices. But if I have to buy fuel, I would spend N20,000 in a day, and it would not be profitable that way.”
He said he usually waits for power to return before working for customers who would not pay extra bills for using a generator.
Ilyasu also urged the government to provide a stable power supply, adding that a consistent power supply in the country improves businesses.
Another business owner, Yusuf Shitu, who is into aluminium, glass fabrication, and installation, said he uses prepaid meters, and his machines do not consume too much power.
“The issue currently is that this year, the supply has been bad. Some days it goes off for no reason; sometimes we can go a whole day without light.
“We spend between N10,000 and N15,000 on electricity monthly, but whenever there is no light, we buy about N6,000 to N7,000 worth of fuel daily, and it still won’t last the whole day.
“I am using this opportunity to call on the government to do better in the area of electricity because the power sector in the country has not been performing well,” he said.