Some housewives in Obafemi Owode LGA in Ogun say they have resorted to grinding stones and charcoal for cooking instead of using electric blenders and cookers.

Owode, Lufuwape, Orile-Igbeyin, Ijemo, Jaguna, and Ayetoro have been experiencing power outages for a while now.

At least 80 per cent of the women interviewed had adopted alternative means of cooking due to the blackout.

The women unanimously declared the situation as “unwarranted hardship.”

A primary school teacher, Funke Aladesanmi, says she now grinds pepper meant to feed her family of 13 with the traditional grinding stone.

“We all know that grinding stone is no longer in vogue because of the emergence of blenders. However, the electricity needed to power the blender is not available.

“Blender is easier to use, as it grinds faster and consumes less energy, but we have been in total darkness for some time now,” she said.

A petty trader, Funke Talogbo, said the power outage had negatively impacted cooking gas and charcoal prices.

According to her, a kilogramme of gas costs N1 700, while a small pack of charcoal costs N500.

“If the power is stable, the prices of these things will not be as high as they are now,” Ms Talogbo said.

Meanwhile, Kausarat Adedeji pleaded with the federal and state governments to help the masses by reducing food prices.

Ms Adedejilamented that besides the power outage, prices of foodstuffs had risen geometrically.

She advised the government to support farmers more so that the supply of foodstuffs exceeds its demand.

“This will automatically bring down the inflation rate and the government should do something about electricity tariff too,” added Ms Adedeji.

Another resident, Alafia Abu, pleaded with the government to urgently resolve the challenges before they lead to crimes in society.

Meanwhile, regarding the outage, Busolami Tunwase, spokesperson for Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), said more transformer repair workshops were needed.

She also said partnerships with independent power producers and alternative solar energy mini-grid producers would rectify the situation.

“More partnership with independent power producers and alternative solar energy mini-grid producers for unserved and underserved remote communities to have access to good power will reduce the hardship,” she said.

She called on the government and power companies to facilitate effective metering of electricity consumers in Nigeria.

This, she said, would lead to good energy management and accountability. 

(NAN)