Some youths in Jigawa State are smiling to the bank daily courtesy of booming ice block sales in the state this Ramadan period, Daily Trust on Sunday reports.
A local market in Dutse popularly called ice block market has over 2000 cold rooms that produce over one hundred thousand ice block every day.
The electricity distribution company in the state KEDCO is said to be generating an average of N2 million revenue from the market alone. Each ice block producer is made to pay N2000 daily to enjoy constant electricity supply.
People from the neighbouring Sumaila Local Government Area in Kano State, Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State and Jama’are Local Government Area of Bauchi State come to the market to buy ice blocks this fasting period.
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However, while ice block sellers get richer, residents groan that the ice block is too expensive selling at between N400 and N500. Buyers who come from neighbouring states also complain of the added cost of transportation back home.
They said they used to buy the same size of ice block for N250 or N350 before.
Aliyu Yusuf, an ice block producer in the market, said they pay N2000 electricity bill every day to enjoy uninterrupted power supply.
He revealed that production cost and maintenance of refrigerator take a chunk of the money they make from the business. A cold room which they buy at N130,000 before is now N600,000 and above.
He called on the government to assist people during the Ramadan period because of the heat wave being experienced in parts of the state.
Yusuf said he used to make N8,000 profit daily from the business but rising cost of production has reduced his profit margin to between N2500 and N3000.
Hamza Muhammad who comes from Sumaila to buy ice block said they are experiencing difficulties in the business because of rising cost of the ice block in the market.
He said transportation cost is a big challenge for them because they come from outside the state to buy the ice which can melt before they reach their destination.
According to him “I will soon stop coming to buy the ice because of the price. When we go back home and sell at the rate of N500, people complain. Although they cannot do without ice during the Ramadan period.”
The Dutse Ice Block Market has given over 300 youths and young boys employment as they go home with at least N2000 after a day’s job.
Daily Trust on Sunday observed that the water source for the ice block is, however, hygienic.
The boys use their bare hands to put the water into the cold rooms and no one seems to care about hygiene practices.
Price of ice block drops in Kano amidst reduced heat wave
Meanwhile, the price of ice block has crashed across Kano metropolis and its environs following improved weather conditions and public supply of electricity.
Until recently, residents have been battling with heat wave in the state and ice block sellers were cashing on the situation to make brisk business.
Daily Trust reported that a middle-sized ice block now sells for N200 as against N800 sold in the last one week.
Hot weather and high chances of dehydration during the month of Ramadan pushed the demand for the ice block to be high, subjecting residents to difficulty in getting it.
Speaking on the development, Sagir Ahmad said, “The hot weather and the poor electricity supply were the main determinants of the price of the ice block. As you can see now, the price has dropped. Normally, it is seasonal.
“In the coming one or two months, it will all crash. It depends! We, manufacturers or rather wholesalers, sell to retailers at the rate of N350, that’s the highest price.
“Whoever you see selling more than that is just doing business. Now that we have witnessed a change in weather, we even sell at the rate of N100.”
Speaking further about the challenges of the business, he said the main problem is with maintenance of the freezers which cost them a lot of money compared to what they are getting.
“As I speak to you, there’s someone who has not made sales because he is busy doing maintenance and repairs.
“A moderate cooler costs at least N850,000 and you can get about 400 ice blocks from it every day. We also preserve drinks for event planners, ice cream makers and those selling yoghurt.”
According to the traders, inadequate supply of electricity, hot weather conditions and increased demand are largely responsible for the hike in price of the commodity.
Also speaking, Abdulrazak Tajuddeen said “Actually, people out there think there’s a lot of profit in this business. It’s just a seasonal business whose gain comes once in a year.
“I have more than 20 boys working under me, and I have 10 freezers.”
With the significant drop in the weather condition in the state, and the improved electricity supply, the demand has come down to its lowest ebb.
Although the price has reduced drastically, there are growing concerns that the unstable electricity supply (though improved at the moment) may still leave fasting Muslim faithful at the mercy of the ice block sellers.
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