BUSINESS DAY
Nigerians are facing a double whammy as scorching heatwave coincides with widespread power outages that have seen many areas experience total darkness for days on end.
In major cities including Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, residents are complaining about worsening power supply, which electricity distribution companies have attributed to low generation occasioned by gas shortages.
The blackout, which has persisted for weeks in some parts of the country, has disrupted daily life, affecting businesses, healthcare facilities, and households reliant on electricity from the national grid for necessities.
“We’re tired of empty promises,” said Sola Adebayo, a Lagos resident who runs a small electronics shop. “The minister keeps asking for patience, but our patience has run out. How can we run our businesses? How can we live comfortably when we have no power?”
The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company Plc (EEDC), on Tuesday, said the poor power supply currently experienced by its customers across the Southeast region was beyond it.
“We understand the inconveniences this situation has caused our esteemed customers and appeal for their understanding as it is beyond us,” Emeka Ezeh, head of corporate communications at EEDC, said.
“Efforts are being made by the various stakeholders in the power sector to address this issue, and we hope this yields positive results so that normal distribution will return,” he added.
Severe heatwaves, which experts have attributed to global warming and continuous depletion of the ozone layer, have combined with the steep drop in power supply to exacerbate the suffering of many Nigerians.
About half of the country is in danger of sunstroke, muscle cramps, and heat exhaustion as air temperatures hit 47°C over the north and 39°C over the south, according to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).
