Small-scale businesses protest over blackout by KEDCO
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) workers in Kano have staged a peaceful protest over an alleged total blackout by the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO),which has affected their businesses negatively.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after the protest at Dakata cluster of the small scale industries, a spokesperson for the workers, Mr Surajo Musa, said the total blackout had disrupted their businesses and their livelihoods.
Musa accused KEDCO of deliberately cutting off power supply to their cluster which has put over 10,000 members at risk of losing their businesses and livelihoods.
“Our situation has worsened because over three months, the total blackout in this industrial area has brought small-scale businesses to the brink of collapse. This prolonged power outage has severe consequences on us and our immediate family members,” he said.
Musa said that his members incurred losses of millions of naira due to total decline in productivity which forced majority of their members to look elsewhere for survival.
He said that the situation had led to substantial financial losses for business owners, who were unable to generate revenue or meet their financial obligations.
Also speaking, one of the owners of the SMEs in Dakata, Malam Murtala Isah, said the prolonged power outage had put jobs at risk, as their businesses may be forced to downsize or close operations completely.
Isah said that the collapse of small-scale businesses in Kano would have far-reaching economic consequences, including reduced economic growth, decreased tax revenue, and increased poverty among the already improvised populace.
He called on the relevant authorities to take immediate action to restore power to the industrial area and provide support to affected businesses by providing energy sources to alleviate the immediate crisis.
The KEDCO’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Sani Bala, declined comment on the matter, promising to investigate the problem.