Residents of Bauchi metropolis have lamented over the erratic power supply hampering business activities in the state.
Some of the residents, who spoke with Newsmen on Tuesday in Bauchi, also said the lingering fuel scarcity had negatively impacted their businesses.
A resident, Aminu Ningi, who sells drinks and ice water, said things were not easy and as he had to buy diesel at about N2,000 per liter to keep his business going.
“With the current hot weather, people are buying a sachet of ice block for N250 or N200, depending on the quantity,” Ningi said.
Mr Silas Abaji, staff of Asab Hotel, Bauchi, said power outages had significantly increased the company’s operating costs.
“Now we depend on diesel to run our generator, as the electricity supply has become epileptic.
“The cost of running the business has tripled; we are almost running at a loss because everything we generate goes into buying diesel,” he lamented.
Abaji urged the government to take swift action to address the issue.
Malam Inuwa Gangnai, a resident and business owner, said there had been a serious decline in the hours of power supply to his residence and business location.
“This has affected my business as a cafe owner. Honestly, I am operating at a loss because of the high cost of diesel,” he said.
Mr Abdulkarim Mahdi, Chairman, Grinders Association, Bauchi, said the energy shortage had negatively impacted socio-economic activities of the people.
He urged the authorities to take immediate action to address the issue for their businesses to be sustained.
On his part, Mr Uzairu Yahaya, Public Relations Officer of the Bauchi Welders Association, said the welding sector in the state was at a standstill, as most welders could not afford diesel to carry out their business.
Similarly, Mr Abdulkarim Mahdi, Chairman Grinders Association, Bauchi, said the erratic power supply had impacted negatively on the socio-economic activities of the people.
He urged the authorities to take immediate action to address the issue for businesses to be sustained and to enable the operators earn a living.
Responding, Mr Rilwanu Shehu, Regional Manager, Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JED), said the company would not deliberately refuse to supply power to its customers.
Shehu said the low supply of power was a national problem, adding that electricity generation companies could not generate enough to meet the needs of all electricity consumers in the country.
He explained that in the past, the Bauchi regional office of JED received over 30 to 40 megawatts of electricity to distribute to its customers.
“As of now we receive as low as ten megawatts due to low generation, and out of the ten megawatts we have prioritised distribution to the water treatment plant in Gubi, Specialist hospital and Teaching Hospital,” said Shehu.
