Frozen Food Sellers in Bauchi Face Losses Amid Power Outage Crisis
Frozen food sellers in Bauchi are grappling with significant losses as prolonged power outages continue to disrupt businesses in the area.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Bauchi and several northern states have been plunged into darkness following vandalism of power transmission lines. A brief restoration in parts of Bauchi was cut short by a national grid collapse on Tuesday, compounding the crisis.
Many traders told NAN that the power shortages have crippled their operations, leading to spoiled inventory and financial losses. Mrs. Grace Waziri, a frozen food vendor, lamented the high cost of fuel needed to preserve her stock of beef, fish, and poultry, calling the situation unsustainable.
Ms. Amina Abubakar, another vendor, shared similar concerns, noting that large quantities of iced fish had spoiled due to the extended outages. She added that vendors are now selling frozen foods at reduced prices, even pleading with customers to buy products quickly to avoid further losses.
Mrs. Naomi Luka urged the Federal Government to take immediate steps to address the power supply issues. To minimize her losses, Luka said she had been selling fish to local roasters at discounted prices after three days without power.
“Power outages are causing substantial financial setbacks for small businesses, reducing sales and hurting the local economy,” she said. Luka also called for alternative energy solutions to support businesses struggling with frequent outages.
Meanwhile, Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JED) confirmed that the recent blackout was due to the national grid collapse. The Head of Corporate Communications, Friday Adakole-Elijah, explained that the outage affected all feeders within JED’s coverage area, and assured customers that power would be restored once the grid supply normalizes.
