A prolonged heatwave and erratic electricity supply in Kano State are taking a heavy toll on small businesses, with soft drink vendor, Auwal Sani, saying he now loses about N20,000 in daily sales due to the worsening conditions.
Sani, who operates a roadside beverage business in Kano metropolis, said the extreme heat should ordinarily boost demand for cold drinks, but the lack of stable electricity has made it difficult to preserve his products.
“In a season like this, I used to make over N30,000 daily because people buy more cold drinks to cope with the heat. But now, I hardly make N10,000,” he said.
According to him, before the current power challenges intensified, his business generated over N600,000 monthly, translating to nearly N7 million annually. However, frequent blackouts have forced him to scale down operations.
“The problem is not demand; it is power. Without electricity, I cannot keep my drinks cold. Customers will not buy warm drinks in this kind of weather,” Sani explained.
He added that he now spends heavily on alternative power sources, including fuel for generators and ice blocks, which significantly cut into his profits.
“Sometimes I spend thousands of naira daily just to keep things running. At the end of the day, there is little or no profit left,” he said.
Sani noted that the situation has worsened in recent weeks as temperatures across Kano and other parts of northern Nigeria continue to rise, making refrigeration more critical for businesses like his.
An energy expert, Dr. Ibrahim Garba, said the situation highlights the broader impact of inadequate electricity supply on small and medium-scale enterprises.
“Businesses that depend on cooling systems, especially in regions experiencing extreme heat, are among the worst affected by unstable power supply,” he said.
Garba explained that beyond immediate revenue losses, inconsistent electricity also increases operating costs and reduces overall productivity.
“When business owners rely on generators, their expenses rise sharply due to fuel costs. This reduces profit margins and, in some cases, forces them to shut down or operate below capacity,” he added.
He stressed that improving electricity supply would not only support businesses but also enhance economic activities, particularly in heat-prone regions.
Sani, meanwhile, called on authorities and power distribution companies to address the situation urgently, warning that many small business owners are struggling to survive.
“If we had steady electricity, this heat would be an opportunity, not a problem. Right now, it is doing more harm than good to our businesses,” he said.
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