Ice block sellers are doing brisk business in Kano due to the intense heat experienced in the metropolitan area during the ongoing Ramadan fasting.

An ice block costs N150 and above, depending on its size and the area it is sold.

The weather forecast in Kano ranges from 40°C to 43°C (Celsius) and above, during the daytime, since the beginning of the fasting.

The ice block vendors package it inside sacks or big containers to prevent it from melting easily.

The vendors, mostly young men and women, normally commence selling from 4:00 p.m. daily at the various roadsides within the metropolis.

Abdullahi Yusuf, an ice block seller, said he made a lot of money daily. He further disclosed that he and other sellers recorded more patronages when there was a power outage, as many people usually rushed to them to acquire the items.

Another vendor, Patience Christopher, added that she normally recorded high patronage during summer.

She explained that they got more money from the business during Ramadan fasting, especially when the temperature was hot.

On his part, Aliyu Nura, a customer, said he bought ice blocks of N400 to N500 daily for his family and that immediately after the sunset, “one needs to drink cold water before eating anything due to the intense heat.”

According to him, ice block vendors usually increase prices when there is a power outage due to high demand, and most people cannot afford to use a generator to power their freezers.

“They rather depend on ice block vendors to get the item to prepare cold water to break their fasting,” he said.

The Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) blamed the current power outage on a system collapse in the national grid.

Hauwa Shuaibu, who signed the statement on behalf of the company’s head of corporate communications, apologised to customers.

She assured them of improved electricity supply as soon as the situation improved.

(NAN)