Power sabotage: Costs of frozen foods, ice blocks skyrocket in Borno

As Maiduguri is plunged into darkness, seafood dealers and artisans lament the worrisome situation as it further worsens the people’s distress

In recent weeks, residents of Maiduguri have turned en masse to power generators as Boko Haram insurgents attacked the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) facilities cutting off electricity supply to Maiduguri and its environs. This sad occurrence has forced hundreds of seafood and perishable items dealers out of business.

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Before the recent attack, residents of Maiduguri had been in darkness for about two months and many frozen foods traders, as well as hospitals, have been counting their losses. And just when the people were about to sigh with relief, as news of the TCN restoration of the national grid supplies filtered, that hope was soon cut short by the terrorists as they wreaked destruction on power installation yet again.

This comes as the commencement of the Ramadan fasting was being announced; a period with a high need for regular electricity supply.

It was learnt that many artisans are abandoning Maiduguri and environs and moving to Kano and Kaduna as they could not cope with the financial losses caused by the long blackout of electricity in the Borno State capital.

Ramadan has started and many Muslim residents who spoke to Daily Trust said they have decided to spend it at home or the mosques as most of their savings and capital have gone into buying petrol for generators.

Mohammed Abacha, a perishable goods vendor at Gomboru market, lamented that his business has recorded huge losses due to the long blackouts and the excessive heat which destroyed meat very quickly.

“As you can see, due to the hot weather, we need ice blocks to keep the meat we sell fresh. The blackout is affecting patronage and the business.

“In fact, food vendors and outlets can no longer buy large quantities of meat like they used to do. This blackout is killing our business and things are getting bad on a daily basis. Even the price of ice blocks (kankara) has kept rising every day.

“It is unfortunate that the government is not interested in easing our hardship in the business we do. It should remember that we are helping in cutting youth unemployment. Some of our colleagues are leaving due to recurring losses,” he said.

A businesswoman, Chizoba Kayode, who sells soft drinks at the popular Circular Junction area of Maiduguri also said the linger blackout caused by the insurgents’ sabotage of electricity supply has badly affected her business. She urged the government, TCN and YEDC to find a lasting solution to the problem.

She said before the month of Ramadan, an ice block was sold for N30 each but that the price has tripled due to high demand.

“This blackout has affected my sales. For about three months now I have been using generator to power my freezers yet customers complain that our drinks are not cold enough. The price of every item has soared due to the blackouts; even ordinary tomatoes the price has doubled.

“The weather is extremely hot – about 45 degrees Celsius, and to get ice blocks is now an issue. Right from the first day of Ramadan, the price of ice block (kankara) shot to N100 each. And the problem is that there will be increase in demand as fasting Muslims will want ice in their pap (kunu).

“We are appealing to the authorities to restore the light and secure the installations against such sabotage by insurgents, and bring respite to us.”

The recent destruction of two 330kvolt towers near Maiduguri by Boko Haram insurgents is a devastating blow to the capital as this may mark the beginning of Borno becoming a failed state due to the long-drawn insurgency war.

The situation has further compounded the problems of small scale businesses in Maiduguri and its environs as they are virtually collapsing due to the blackouts that seem to defy solution. Many business owners cannot sustain the bill for running generators for days.

A visit to Dokiri near El-Kanemi roundabout, Monday Market in Maiduguri where frozen food dealers sell their products revealed that many of the dealers of ice fish have locked up their cold rooms.

Bello Abdulbasir, a seafood dealer, expressed dismay over the blackout and urged the federal government to wipe out the terrorists, saying they have almost crippled the economy of the state capital.

“We are dying here. Even when Maiduguri was under siege things didn’t get as bad as what we are experiencing now. Many of the dealers have been out of business because they could not sustain the cost of running generators. Please people are angry just go. That’s all,” he lamented.

“It is painful to experience this type of challenge. We rely on power to do our work now we are here for months, without light. It is frustrating. The federal government should take decisive action against these terrorists,” Abdulbasir said.

A restauranteur, Tochuckwu Eze, noted that if the government did not take the bull by the horn, the state capital could become a failed state capital economically, where people lived on handouts like displaced persons

“We used to buy three ice blocks at the rate of N100 but with the Ramadan fasting, the price not only increased but even to get it is a problem. Where we get it now, it cost N100 each due to lack of electricity.

“We also have to increase the price on our menu. Also, we can no longer buy ingredients and preserve them. We rely on kankara to keep our soft drinks, meat and even perishables cold.

NNPC Group Managing Director, Mele Kyari, who led a high-powered delegation to Maiduguri recently, had said the federal government will not fold its arms and watch the state ravaged by insurgents, especially cutting it off from the national grid, as power is the source of income for most people of the state.

The NNPC boss assured that all things being equal it was his wish to resolve the problems of the people so that within four months electricity may be restored to Maiduguri through a proposed gas plant.

“We think that between three and four months, we should be able to put up a power plant that will serve Borno. And I have the confidence of all of us – the gas suppliers, the potential supplier of the power plant itself and also the distribution company to make sure this thing works. We are counting on your help and support to make sure we deliver,” he said.

An ice block dealer Jamilu Shehu (BabaSha) expressed concerns over the blackout, saying their businesses is dying due to bogus expenses petty traders like himself are made to undertake.

“We started this business  inside Doctor quarters Buba Marwa house about 20 years, back then everything was stable. However, things have changed now as there is no light. This year has been our worst year for us in this business.”

“It’s becoming difficult to construct a fridge, everything is expensive, even the gas is extremely costly. We buy a litre for between N280 to N300. Some buy a litre of PMS at N200 at a filling station, but black market is N300 per litre. It’s frustrating!”

He also noted that with the heat season, the Ramadan fast is more difficult as most people don’t get cool drinks to quench their thirst after the day’s fast.

“People are suffering a lot, looking for cool drinks, especially because the weather is hot and Ramadam is ongoing. We are going through a lot. We are begging the government to restore electricity in the state because we are suffering, all our profits go for diesel” Shehu said.