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Persistent electricity outages across Kano State have intensified hardship for residents and small businesses, as prolonged blackouts coincide with rising temperatures are disrupting economic activities and daily life.
A DAILY POST survey shows that several communities now spend days without electricity, while others receive supply for less than an hour, often late at night when most residents are asleep.
Areas affected include Naibawa, Unguwar uku, Mariri, Ja’en, Fagge, Gyadi-Gyadi, Hotoro, Sheka in Kano metropolitan, and remote local governments like Gabasawa, Wudil, Doguwa, Bichi, Tsanyawa, Bunkure, Kibiya etc, where residents say the situation has reached a critical point.
Businesses Count Losses, Shift Trades
Hajiya Binta, a cold drinks vendor in Sharada, said the erratic supply has crippled her business, forcing her to abandon reliance on refrigerators.
“The refrigerators I bought for my business have now become like storage boxes for ice,” she said.
“We now depend on buying ice everyday, and it is getting more expensive, sometimes up to ₦500, especially during Ramadan when customers want cold drinks.”
She noted that the situation has significantly reduced her income and made it difficult to sustain her trade.
Similarly, Sulaiman Baba, a 27-year-old apprentice welder in Hotoro, said the lack of electricity has forced their workshop to shut down operations.
“We have stopped welding because there is no power. Prior to now, our boss would wait until midnight when electricity comes and work till early morning. But now, even that is no longer reliable. I had to switch to carpentry just to survive,” said Sulaiman.
Efforts to reach his employer for comment were unsuccessful, as calls placed to him were not answered.
Residents Turn to Alternatives, Raise Allegations
Some residents who can afford alternatives have turned to solar energy. Ashiru Tukur, a father of three in Ja’en, said he disconnected from the national grid after installing a solar system.
“It’s not that I wanted to stop using public electricity, but we kept getting bills without enjoying supply, In a whole month, you may not even get up to 10 hours of electricity. I told them to disconnect me, why should I pay for what I didn’t use? If you want money, give us light and we will pay.” he said
Meanwhile, some residents who spoke anonymously alleged that certain small-scale businesses, including ice producers, may be influencing electricity distribution to secure preferential supply. These claims, however, remain unverified.
Bichi LG Suspends Payment to KEDCO
The electricity crisis has now triggered organised resistance in some areas.
Residents of Bichi Local Government Area have suspended payment of electricity bills to Kano Electricity Distribution Company until there is a significant improvement in power supply.
The decision was contained in a statement issued by the Public Relations Secretary of the Sodangi Development Association (BISDA), Comrade Na’allazi Bichi.
According to the statement, the action followed allegations that KEDCO has failed to fulfill its obligations to the community.
“All residents have been directed to stop payment of electricity bills until there is a noticeable improvement in power supply,” the statement said.
The association added that it is prepared to take all necessary steps to protect the rights of the people of Bichi.
Providing further clarification, Na’allazi Bichi said the community had already engaged with KEDCO representatives and security officials after announcing the decision, during which they firmly reiterated their position.
FG Apologises, Promises Improvement
The development comes amid a recent apology from the Federal Government over persistent outages nationwide.
Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, made the appeal during a press briefing in Abuja.
“I want to sincerely apologise to Nigerians for this temporary setback, which has caused significant discomfort, especially during this period of extreme heat,” he said.
He acknowledged that the outages have disrupted homes, businesses, and institutions, but assured that efforts are underway to stabilise supply.
“Within the next two weeks, we expect to begin seeing improvements as gas supply challenges are resolved and critical infrastructure is repaired,” Adelabu added.
He identified inadequate gas supply as a major constraint to electricity generation and disclosed that the government has set up a special committee to monitor gas suppliers’ compliance.
Backlash Over ₦7bn Solar Project at Presidential Villa
However, many Nigerians have expressed dismay over lack of improvement in electricity supply, particularly following the allocation of ₦7 billion in the 2026 budget for a solar power project at the Presidential Villa.
Critics argue that while such investment may guarantee stable electricity at the seat of power, millions of Nigerians continue to face unreliable supply.
Despite repeated assurances, many Nigerians remain skeptical, citing years of unfulfilled promises in the power sector.
World Bank report shows that while countries like Egypt and South Africa generate tens of thousands of megawatts of electricity, Nigeria has struggled to produce between 4,000 and 5,000 megawatts for a population of over 200 million people for more than a decade.
Though frequent power outages are a national problem, Kano’s situation is worse.Efforts to reach the spokesperson of KEDCO in Kano were unsuccessful.
As temperatures continue to rise and outages persist, residents and business owners in Kano say only concrete and sustained improvements, not promises, will ease the growing strain on livelihoods and restore confidence in the power sector.
Persistent power outages, rising heat force business closures in Kano
