Premium News
ENUGU BUSINESS OWNERS CRY OVER TOTAL BLACKOUT IN COAL CITY
Many business owners in some parts of Enugu State, on Friday, said the current total blackout in their areas had become a threat to their businesses. They therefore called on the government to intervene urgently.
Emeka Onah owns a plastic crushing factory along Anglican Road at Nsukka. He stated that since about eight days before the blackout started, he had spent over N300,000 in buying gas to power his plant.
According to him, “It became unbearable, and we couldn’t produce anymore. I had to shut down. Some days ago, my friend told me to temporarily relocate to his shop around the Building Materials Market, Nsukka, where they do have a relative power supply. That is where we are evacuating our machines to. It has not been easy. Paying my workers has become a problem.
“I want the matter of electricity supply in the state to be resolved, otherwise, our efforts would be in vain. I borrowed money to buy the machines I am using for production. Under this condition, I am at the mercy of my lenders.”
Sunday Ogbodo runs a barber’s shop at T-junction axis, Abakpa Nike. Sunday said he began the business in June this year following the demolition of his shop by the state government to make way for the ongoing construction of the road leading to Liberty bus stop at Abakpa.
According to him, “My relatives assisted me in starting this business. But the current power outage in some parts of Enugu has negatively affected my business. We buy a litre of PMS at about N1,000. Few people now come to cut their hair because of the charge, which is N1,000. Most families now have private clippers. Again, some young men now cut their hair themselves. These factors reduced patronage. Then we now have to grapple with power outages. It is not encouraging at all.”
Hon Hillary Onah owns a garden along Ugwuogo Road in Enugu. He stated that, “Our customers would demand chilled drinks. When they are told we don’t have one, they leave. I spend at least N10, 000 on fuelling my plant everyday. At night, whether there are customers or not, we must electrify the premises.
Many businesses face extinction. Landlords are not helping matters. The power supply in the state is becoming something else. Around 3am, they will flash the light for a minute, and that will be all. The bill is still coming at the end of the day.”
The government of Enugu State, through its Enugu Electricity Regulatory Commission, recently reduced the tariff for Band A customers from N209.50/kwh to N160.40/kwh.
On Monday, Mainpower Electricity Distribution Limited announced that the reduction was the cause of the power outage. The management explained that the reduction led to a significant drop in energy allocation from its parent company, Enugu Electricity Distribution Company.
