A week-long power blackout in Nigeria’s Gombe, Jigawa, and Bauchi states has sharply increased rice prices, with a bag now selling between N120,000 and N160,000, up from the previous range of N110,000 to N150,000. The power outage, caused by vandalized transmission lines, has disrupted business operations and impacted essential services like healthcare, water supply, sanitation, and street lighting, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.
Rice millers in Gombe have reported severe effects on their production due to the blackout. Musa Arab, a miller from Nassarawo Industrial Layout, stressed the importance of reliable power for industrial growth, noting that high fuel costs have made generator use unsustainable. This challenge has reduced rice output, raising concerns about food security.
Yusuf Ibrahim, another local business owner, highlighted inflation risks, explaining that some businesses have raised prices to offset increased diesel expenses, which in turn has driven up rice prices. Ugochukwu Daniel, a bartender in Bauchi, shared his struggles, explaining that his business depends on electricity to keep drinks cold. “Without electricity, you’re out of business,” he said.
In the laundry sector, Samuel Adamu has had to rely on charcoal for ironing as a result of the power shortage, despite a rise in charcoal prices from N5,000 to N15,000. “Now, I do the washing and hire someone else for ironing,” Adamu said.
Meanwhile, efforts to address the power crisis are underway in Jigawa, where the newly enacted Jigawa Electricity Law 2024 aims to address power infrastructure challenges. Muhammad Adamu, Chairman of the Jigawa State House Assembly Committee on Power and Energy, explained that the law paves the way for the establishment of the Jigawa Electricity Commission, tasked with regulating the state’s electricity market and addressing issues like vandalism.
Following recent constitutional changes enabling states to create power laws, this legislation aims to provide “reliable, affordable, and sustainable power, essential for development,” with a particular focus on rural areas.
