Hoteliers in Umuahia and Aba, the two major cities in Abia, have decried the increasing cost of doing business arising from epileptic power supply to the areas.

The hoteliers and entrepreneurs said Tuesday the situation was frustrating their businesses.

They expressed concern over the rising cost of diesel and petrol, adding that the hospitality business would collapse if urgent action were not taken to salvage the situation.

Peter Okwudiri, the manager at New Breed Hotel, Umuahia, said, “We are relatively new in this hotel business, but we are already considering opting out because of the rising cost of diesel to power our generator.

“We supply our own electricity because of the poor power supply from Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), and I don’t know how long we will continue to do this.”

Evaristus Chukwu, a storekeeper in one of the hotels, explained that most operators no longer guarantee their clients a steady power supply in their hotels.

“If you go to most of the hotels around now, they power their generating sets for some hours and then put them off, especially late in the night. This is because it has become impossible to run them for 24 hours considering the cost of diesel,” said Mr Chukwu. This has also made nightlife difficult, and that is why social life is almost at a zero level in Umuahia.”

Ezinne Udeze, who owns a provision shop, said, “I have been buying ice blocks to chill my drinks because, for days now, we have not had light in our area.”

Oluchi Onyedimma, a shop owner at Okwulehie Street by Niger Street, said since nine months, she had not had a power supply in her shop because the transformer failed.

She is angry that she is paying for darkness while spending more money to buy ice blocks to preserve her products and make them acceptable to customers.

Not yet Uhuru in Aba

Meanwhile, many Aba residents are also complaining that despite the inauguration of Geometric Power Limited (GPAL) and its distribution arm, Aba Power Limited Electric (APLE), which raised their hopes, they have yet to get enough power supply.

In recent times, social media has been awash with reports of an uninterrupted power supply in Aba following the inauguration of the power plant.

Although power generation had improved, many parts of the Aba Ring-Fenced Area had yet to know the difference between the pre-and post-inauguration supply of new power plants.

Residents of Abayi, where the company is located, Umungasi, parts of Ogbor Hill, Ngwa Road, and Port Harcourt Road, among others, said they have not had power supply since the inauguration.

Emmanuel Ifeanyi, an Aba resident, said that nightlife in the city has not improved, adding that the flicker of light seen on some streets at night comes from solar lamps installed by Governor Alex Otti.

He said that if there was any minimal improvement, it was only attributable to Otti’s street lights Otti and not to the GPAL power supply.

The proprietor of Regals Fast Food Cafe, Agatha Okonkwo, said, “Though we sell well during the day, at night, drivers come in from outside the state and they have to cool down with food and drink.

“At night, business makes sense because everywhere is calm and customers would be relaxed as they have closed for the day. With regular power supply, eateries, joints and hotel business owners will reap a bumper harvest. This will also encourage them to pay their electricity bills.”

Situation beyond our control, EEDC says

Meanwhile, EEDC explained that the poor power supply experienced by its customers across the South-East was beyond the organisation.

EEDC spokesman Emeka Eze attributed the situation to low energy generation, which had resulted in a drop in power supply.

He explained that the development had resulted in low generation, reducing the quantum of daily megawatt hours of energy allocated to distribution companies nationwide.

“We understand the inconveniences this situation has caused our esteemed customers and appeal for their understanding as it is beyond us. We can only distribute what is allocated to us,” he said.

Mr Eze reiterated that various stakeholders in the power sector were making efforts to address the issue.

The spokesman for Aba Power Limited Electric (APLE), Chijioke Ogbodo, said the main reason for insufficient power generation by generating companies was chronic gas supply inadequacy.

“This shortage is attributed to various factors such as pipeline vandalism, gas flaring, and inadequate investment in gas infrastructure”, he said.

Mr Ogbodo recommended combating pipeline vandalism through stringent security measures. He also urged the reduction of gas flaring by implementing policies and technologies that would minimise gas flaring.

Mr Ogbodo further said that massive investment in gas, including pipeline operations and processing facilities, would enhance the reliability and efficiency of gas supply to power plants.

He also called for diversifying gas supply by exploring alternative gas supply sources, such as liquefied natural gas imports and domestic gas production. 

(NAN)