FCT: Businesses crippled in Kuje over erratic power supply
Small and medium business owners in Kuje, the headquarters of Kuje Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are expressing frustration over what they called constant and prolonged power outages that are crippling their operations. From small shopkeepers to skilled artisans, many say they are on the brink of shutting down due to the […]
Small and medium business owners in Kuje, the headquarters of Kuje Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are expressing frustration over what they called constant and prolonged power outages that are crippling their operations. From small shopkeepers to skilled artisans, many say they are on the brink of shutting down due to the unbearable cost of running businesses without electricity.
Abuja Metro reports that owners of hair salons, cyber cafés, cold room operators, and tailoring shops have all suffered heavy losses due to the erratic power supply in many parts of the town.
Our reporter, who was at the town reports that many businesses have started folding up as the owners said they could no longer cope with the rising cost of petrol and the stress of operating in darkness.
Apeh Blessing, a beauty salon owner, lamented the loss of her customers due to the unreliable electricity supply.
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She said, “Once my customers come to the salon and discover there’s no light, they will refuse to stay. When I try to make them comfortable by powering my generator, which is very expensive and I charge them accordingly, they complain. Fuelling my generator daily eats into my profit. At this point, how can I survive?’’
Mrs. Folakemi Olasunkanmi, a drink vendor, also shared her frustration.
She said, “I can’t refrigerate my drinks. I spend almost all my earnings buying ice blocks to keep them chilled, but they don’t stay cold for long. Some days, I make no profit at all. I go home sad and frustrated.”
Musa, a welder, said the situation has gone from bad to worse.
“We’ve been abandoned. No light for days, yet we’re still expected to pay bills. Customers don’t wait around anymore—they go elsewhere, and we lose money every single day. How do I survive and become self-reliant in this condition?” he asked.
While the situation persists, a resident of Kuje, Mrs. Cecilia Okun, said her area in Kuchiyako has been without electricity for weeks.
“I’ve been unable to refrigerate my meals, which has led to constant spoilage. I had to shut down my sewing shop because my machine runs on electricity. Without power, I can’t be productive,” she said.
The business owners are appealing to the government and electricity providers to urgently resolve the power supply issues in Kuje.
They stressed that stable electricity was crucial for small businesses to thrive and for the local economy to grow.
The residents warned that if nothing is done soon, more businesses will collapse, leading to job losses and deepening the economic hardship in the area.
When contacted on phone, the Head of Marketing and Communications, Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Mrs. Adefisayo Akinsanyo, requested our reporter to send her a message.
A message sent to her WhatsApp was not responded to as at the time of filing the report yesterday.