Business owners in Bauchi, Gombe and Jigawa are recording losses due to week-long blackout ocassioned by vandalism of the power transmission line in parts of northern Nigeria.

The sudden disruption in electricity supply in the past days, also affected essential services such as water, sanitation, street lighting and healthcare delivery as most hospitals have been operating without light.

Some of the affected businesses including shop keepers, millers and artisans, who spoke while reacting to a survey by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), described the situation as “pathetic”.

The survey examined the perennial collapse of national grid and the need for alternative power supply in the country.

Rice millers in Gombe had decried the impact of the erratic power supply on their businesses.

A Miller, Musa Arab, at Nassarawo Industrial Layout in Gombe, said the trend was crippling their operations as they relied on electricity supply from the grid to process paddy.

He said the mills were not operational power outage as they could not afford exorbitant pump prices of petrol or diesel to run their machines.

This, he said, reduced the volume of rice supply to the market and posed serious challenge to food security.

“We must invest in power because it is the biggest determining factor for industries to thrive.

“I have over 20 workers in my mill, and we have 100 mini rice mills here, so you can imagine those who have no jobs for the past 10 days.

“Government must go tough on those responsible for the perennial grid collapse because some persons may be benefitting from it,” he said.

Also, Yusuf Ibrahim said the situation might trigger the already fragile inflation, as prices of local varieties would shot up ocassioned by the diminish supply.

He said that some had jerked up their charges to cover the expenses on diesel thereby affecting rice prices.

A check by NAN at the Gombe Main market showed that a 100 kilogramme of rice was sold for between N120,000 and N160,000, as against N110,000 and N150,000, before the blackout.

Mr Usman Sani, a rice dealer, attributed the hike in price to low supply of the produce to the market in spite of the number harvest recorded this cropping season.

He said the prices had decreased slightly at the onset of the harvest, however, it showed sprawling increase due to power outage.

“The price of rice is already dropping as a result of harvest but the trend reverse since the blackout in the past days “ he said.

Ugochukwu Daniel, a bartender in Bauchi, decried the epileptic power supply in the country, adding that lack of durable energy supply would retard Nigeria’s quest to attain social and economic greatness.

Daniel said that she spent much on fuel to run power generator for refrigrator and lightening the beer parlour, to enable her to keep the business running.

He said that businesses could only thrive in an enabling environment with stable electricity supply, to enhance wealth creation and reduce poverty among Nigerians.

“My trade is about chill drinks and it survives on electricity to operate otherwise you will out of bussiness.

“Without electricity there is nothing you can do, and not only business but about everything. We depend on it,” he said.

Similarly, Samuel Adamu, said the persistent power outage had forced him to patronised charcoal for ironing clothes in spite of its high cost and cumbersome processes.

He said that most cleaners in the area had resorted to fabricated iron charcoal in spite of hike in its prices which suddenly jumped from N5,000 to N15,000.

Adamu said the situation also encouraged division of labour in laundry to cut cost and make some gains.

“Presently, I do wash the cloth, and engage someone for ironing. The charge is N300 per set as against N150”.

While advocated development of renewable energies to enhance power supply in the country, Adamu urged security agencies to entensify efforts towards electrical installations in the country.

In the same vein; Mr Muhammad Adamu, Chairman, Jigawa State House Assembly Commitee on Power and Energy, said the Jigawa Electricity Law 2024, made sound provisions to improve power generation and distribution in the state.

This, he said, was an offshoot of the devaluation brought about by the 5th alteration of the constitution, where removed power from the executive legislative list and to the concurrent list.

“It empowered the state houses of assembly to enact laws on power.

“The committee has also carefully pursued the bill and reviewed its structure and the promise it holds for the state power sector, infrastructure and the overall economy of the state.

“The new law will pave way for the establishment of Jigawa Electricity Commission, to regulate the state’s electricity market,” he said.

According to Adamu, the law will protect residents and investors in the energy sector through ensuring prepaid meter installation and possibility of recouping investor’s funds as well as address vandalism.

“The law will lead to provision of reliable, affordable and sustainable power, essential for development of all sectors of the economy, particularly in rural areas,” Adamu said.

“Vandalism will be over because we pay Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) money for powered supplies, but whenever there is problem of damages or broken down transformers, it is either the communities or individuals that pay for the repairs”.

Owing to the prolonged power outage in parts of Nigeria including Jos, phone charging spots in the town and environs have been recording high patronage.

The correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who visited some of the charging centres reports that residents were trooping in their numbers to charge their phones.

NAN reports that the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), who attributed the fault in its 330KV Ugwaji-Apir transmission line, however, said that efforts were on top gear to fix the problem.

Most owners of such charging spots largely sell phones accessories.

Mr John Greg, whose charging spot is located at Tudun Wada community of Jos North Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau, said that the power outage had increased patronage.

‘’As you can see, I sell phone accessories and also charge phones for those who don’t have electricity at all.

‘’But with the current power outage affecting most states in the northern part, patronage has increased; I charge more than 700 phones daily.

‘’Before now, I charged each phone for N100, but since we also use generators and with the hike in price of fuel, we have also increased the price of our services to N200 per phone,’’ he said.

Greg explained that the hike in price of charging had not affected the level of patronage, insisting that his services were crucial particularly for phone users who can’t afford generators in their homes.

Also, Mr Sunday James, who owns a charging spot at Hwolshe community of Jos South LGA, said that he collects N150 per phone and power banks for his services.

James, who explained that he uses a generator to provide the service, said he attends to more than 600 customers daily.

‘’I am particularly not happy that this is happening in a country with abundant human and capital resources; a country that God has so blessed.

‘’But this is the situation we have found ourselves in and we are taking advantage of it to make money.

‘’This is not stealing or cheating, but providing services to those in need,’’he said.

James, however, said that the charging business required time and presence, and added that it had stopped him from attending to other businesses.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has responded strongly to allegations made by Senator Oyelola Ashiru from Kwara South, labeling his recent attack on the agency’s integrity as a vendetta rather than an expression of public interest.

During a press briefing at its National Headquarters in Abuja, the NDLEA addressed Senator Ashiru’s claims that “the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency is corrupt and compromised…”

In a statement signed by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media & Advocacy for the NDLEA, the agency characterised Ashiru’s remarks as “unfortunate.”

Babafemi stated, “The NDLEA is compelled to call this press briefing today because of an unfortunate development earlier last week during plenary in the Nigerian Senate when some uncomplimentary, unfounded, defamatory remarks were made against the Agency.”

While acknowledging the Senate’s contributions toward national development, the NDLEA insisted it must respond to the senator’s comments made during discussions on a new bill for establishing the National Institute for Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation on October 15, 2024.

The agency expressed disappointment that after waiting a week for clarification from Ashiru, it felt compelled to set the record straight for the Senate, its partners, and the public.

Babafemi noted, “There is no doubt that setting up another agency is within the power of the Senate… Yet, for a member of the upper chamber to have made such an unfounded and unwarranted categorical statement against the Agency led us to look inward.”

The NDLEA alleges that Senator Ashiru’s attack is rooted in personal grievances linked to prior raids on his residence, where drugs and illicit substances were reportedly recovered, leading to the arrest of his aides.

Babafemi detailed, “Based on credible intelligence… the house was raided by our operatives at 1:30pm on February 4, 2024… two aides were arrested, while a third suspect escaped arrest.”

Despite Ashiru’s attempts to discredit the agency, the NDLEA highlighted its numerous achievements in combating drug trafficking and substance abuse, receiving international accolades and support.

“In the past three years, NDLEA has emerged as a regional leader among national drug law enforcement agencies,” Babafemi asserted.

The agency reiterated its commitment to continue dismantling illicit drug networks across the country, including those allegedly connected to the senator.

Babafemi concluded, “If Senator Ashiru has a personal grudge against NDLEA, it shouldn’t be cloaked as a matter of public concern.”