A lingering power outage in Kano State, now stretching into its tenth day, has significantly disrupted daily life and economic activity throughout the metropolis.
Residents who spoke to journalists on Sunday expressed frustration over the widespread blackout, which they say has been worsened by recurrent national grid failures.
Communities across the city remain in darkness, with businesses and households struggling to cope.
Entrepreneurs in particular have voiced their concerns, highlighting how the power disruption has negatively impacted their operations.
A hotel and bar operator in Sabon Gari, Mr. Jude Michael, Fagge Local Government Area, described the situation as unbearable.
“I have been running on a generator for days, which is making me incur losses. Sometimes customers come, and other times they do not. It is not encouraging,” he lamented, explaining how the lack of refrigeration has driven customers away.
In Nasarawa LGA’s Dakata area, welder Abubakar Bala said the ongoing reliance on diesel generators is not economically viable.
“We have paid for electricity, yet we do not have access. If power is not restored soon, my business might collapse,” he warned, appealing to authorities to consider sustainable alternatives.
Similarly, another welder, Aminu Sani from Tarauni LGA, has had to pause his work due to the soaring cost of fuel.
“We charge more when we use generators, but not everyone can afford the increased prices. Now, we are stranded without work,” he said.
Frozen food vendors are also counting their losses. Manu Garba, who operates along Zaria Road, revealed that the blackout has plunged many into debt, with perishable stock spoiling due to lack of refrigeration.
“We had expected to make good sales during Easter, even if the profit would be minimal due to the country’s economic situation. But the epileptic power supply since then has pushed many of us into serious debt. Cartons of frozen chicken and fish got spoiled after a week. While some of us managed to salvage what we could, others were not so lucky,” he explained.
Hairdresser Bunmi Ola from Kumbotso echoed similar sentiments, saying the situation had been devastating for small business owners who depend on stable electricity.
She noted, “Despite their losses, electricity companies were still issuing estimated bills.”
While many suffer, mobile phone charging operators are seeing a boost in their business. Malam Isa Umar, one of the operators, confirmed increased customer traffic but said he had to adjust his prices due to rising fuel costs.
“We now charge between ₦150 and ₦200 per phone,” he disclosed.
The blackout has also affected water supply across the state, with prices for a 25-litre jerrycan of water reportedly doubling from ₦100 to ₦200 in certain locations.
Reacting to the situation, Sani Bala, Head of Corporate Communications at the Kano Electricity Distribution Company, explained that the reduction in power supply is linked to ongoing network improvements and vegetation clearance activities on feeders.
He noted, “The maintenance was necessary to improve infrastructure and ensure safety for engineers working on the network.” He added that the initiative is part of a broader strategy aimed at enhancing service delivery and extending electricity supply hours.
