In Nigeria’s bustling commercial capital, Lagos, businesses are grappling with severe power shortages that have left more than a third of the country’s 36 states in darkness for over ten days. The recent outages have compounded the challenges faced by entrepreneurs like Chidinma Emeneka, who operates Sparkle Inn Laundry Services.
As the generator roars to life in her poorly lit reception area, Emeneka faces mounting operational costs tied to the unreliable power supply. “We turned to expensive generators to keep going after a previous six-week blackout caused by a power surge that damaged my meter,” she recounted. Emeneka has been unable to replace her broken meter due to a malfunctioning application platform. “Currently, we have been sustaining with an inverter and a generator, but the fuel price is driving me crazy,” she added.
The power crisis has severely impacted Emeneka’s business, with customers waiting up to a week for laundry services that are typically completed within 72 hours. Her daily fuel expenses for the generator have soared to 35,000 naira ($21; £16), and on cloudy days, costs can double. The laundry operator expressed frustration over the lack of response from the Eko Electricity Distribution Company, which serves parts of Lagos.
The broader implications of Nigeria’s failing power sector are dire. Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu acknowledged the nation’s outdated infrastructure, stating, “We have a national grid that is more than 50 years old. The towers are falling, and the substation transformers are old.” He emphasized that while efforts are underway to revamp the system, change cannot happen overnight.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria attributed the recent outages to vandalism on a major transmission line. Although power has been restored to seven states after a nine-day blackout, many areas in Lagos remain without electricity. The situation is exacerbated by rising fuel prices, which have surged over 500% since last year.
Small businesses, including frozen-food vendors, have faced devastating losses, discarding thousands of dollars worth of spoiled goods due to power failures. Energy experts have criticized the government for not investing adequately in infrastructure improvements. Analyst Oti Ikomi noted that while vandalism plays a role in outages, the lack of technical enhancements continues to hinder progress. “It needs commitment,” he warned.
For many residents unable to afford the rising costs of generator fuel, hand fans are their only respite from the sweltering heat. As the situation remains precarious, experts advise small businesses to consider solar panels and inverters as backup options for grid collapses, although the initial costs are prohibitive for many.
With the power crisis persisting, the resilience of Lagos businesses hangs in the balance as they navigate these unprecedented challenges.
