Small and medium business owners in the south East zone are currently at their wits end to solve the seemingly unending energy crisis in the zone.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that this is also worsened by the high cost of fuel is currently being sold at N1300 per litre.
Some of the business premises visited by our reporter showed that the situation is gradually becoming a nightmare for the business owners.
At one of the popular table water in Nsukka, Enugu state, some of the workers were seen waiting for the elusive public energy supply before they resume work.
The manager of the company was not on seat, but a principal staff told our reporter that the situation is getting on the nerve of the management.
“When there was relatively stable, we produced more than two hundred crates of table water in a day. But today, can’t boast of one hundred crates.”
On how often the company gets public energy supply in a day, the staff explained that ” you can’t really predict or calculate the number of hours we get this energy supply. Sometimes in a day, you won’t see it. That means you have to resort to lister which in itself is very expensive to operate considering the high cost of diesel.
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” At another time, the energy will be on for say, three to four hours in a day. Sometimes more especially when they are preparing for debt drive. Honestly, we, small business workers are suffering.”
Explaining further, the worker told our reporter that he always feels for the business owners who use electricity for their production.That is why we have now increased the price of our product so as to survive the harsh time.
At a hotel in Enugu metropolis, the manager who gave his name as Tochukwu told WITHIN NIGERIA that the situation is gradually crippling businesses in the zone.
“Imagine that we buy fifty litres of diesel every day at N2000 per litre which N100,000. If you multiply by thirty days, you will see that we spend up to N3m every month for light alone.You have not talked about water and other things. Then you ask yourself, how much do we charge for lodging and other services. How do we survive? How do we pay our workers? It is terrible.”
Narrating, Mr. Tochukwu stated that ” more frustrating is the fact that after racking your brain on how to keep the business going, the state government will come and slam you with heavy tax. It is very appalling and I want to tell you that many businesses are closing because the environment is hostile and not encouraging at all.”
Appealing to the government, Mr. Tochukwu said that ” if our government should make things easier for us by providing all these social amenities and pipe water, our businesses will thrive. But in a situation where there is no electricity, no water and accessible and pay though your nose as tax, it is very frustrating.”
In a telephone chat with Chukwudi Alozie, owner of Avilla Computer Centre at Obosi, Anambra state, he told our reporter that he has not been finding it easy as a result of epileptic power supply.
“Before now, I make more than N30,000 every day. But today, due to the fact that we no longer have regular power supply, I spend additional N15000 on petrol. As I speak with you now, I buy fuel worth N20,000 every day as against N5000 I used to buy.”
Narrating further, Alozie told WITHIN NIGERIA that ” I have been thinking of going solar but for the money involved. I was told told the solar power that can carry my equipment will not be less than N4m. Where do I have such kind of money? We are not finding it easy at all.”
When our reporter called Chijioke Mgbada, a welder at Ikwo in Ebonyi state, the story is still the same.
According to Mr. Mgbada, ” EEDC told all the welders in this area to be paying N35,000 every month which we agreed irrespective of the fact that there was regular power supply.
“However, the situation has worsened and they still come to demand for their .monthly N35000 bill despite the fact that we no longer have light even up to two hours a day.
” Most of the energy supply is in the night when all the welders have gone home, yet they insist on the N35000 payment.
“We have complained to them about this but they don’t want to hear. So, that is why most of the welders have opted for welding generator which is up to N1m.
“So, it has not been easy for us here in Ebonyi state as far as electricity is concerned.”
EEDC Explains Reasons For The Epileptic power supply
However, recently The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC(EEDC) said that inadequate gas supply to the thermal generating stations was responsible for the current decline in power supply across southeast region.
Head of Communications, EEDC, Emeka Ezeh, said that the development has significantly reduced the energy allocated to the EEDC.
According to him, the reduction has affected power availability to customers across it’s network.
“In view of the substantial drop in energy generation, and to maintain grid stability as well as prevent system disturbances, the Independent System Operator (ISO) is implementing load shedding across the system”, Ezeh said
He assured customers that the company would continue to liaise with relevant stakeholders with the hope of solving the gas supply constraints and generation challenge soon.
Ezeh appealed to customers for understanding even as he regretted the inconvenience the situation may have caused them and appreciated their continued patience.
