ABUJA — Mounting electricity instability is crippling sachet water and ice block businesses in Kpeyegyi and Kurudu communities of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with traders warning of sharp price increases and declining patronage as production costs spiral.
In Benin City, the prices of ice block has risen from N500 to between N700 and N800 per package, a marginal increase of between 40 to 60 percent, while a bag of water increased from about N330 to N400 to between N400 and N500 whole sale price, a marginal increase of between 14 to 25 percent.
Sachet water now sells for N50 per one, as against three or four for N100
A cross-section of operators who spoke to our correspondent on Wednesday said erratic power supply had disrupted operations and forced many to rely on expensive alternatives, particularly petrol and diesel generators, thereby pushing up the cost of basic commodities.
Mrs Victoria Alizi, a sachet water trader, lamented that unstable electricity had significantly raised her operating expenses, leaving her with no option but to increase prices.
She explained that a bag of sachet water she previously sold at N400 now costs her N500 to purchase and is sold at N600.
According to her, the ripple effect has also altered retail pricing, as she now sells a sachet for N50, compared to three sachets for N100 in the past, largely due to the rising cost of ice blocks used in preservation.
“Before now, I bought ice blocks for between N500 and N700, but the price has surged to as high as N1,500,” she said, adding that shrinking profit margins and reduced patronage were threatening the survival of small-scale traders as consumers increasingly seek cheaper alternatives.
She appealed to relevant authorities to urgently address the electricity challenge to ease production bottlenecks, lower costs and safeguard livelihoods.
Also speaking, an ice block producer, Mr Simon Boss, said the persistent power outages had severely disrupted production cycles, forcing operators to depend heavily on generators.
He noted that the high cost of fuel had further compounded operational expenses, with producers inevitably transferring the burden to consumers.
“We are feeling the impact, especially at the peak of the dry season when demand is highest. Some of us are recording losses due to partially frozen or melted products caused by unstable electricity, while others can no longer meet customer demand consistently,” he said.
Boss added that the situation was particularly dire for small-scale producers who lack the financial capacity to sustain prolonged generator use, revealing that some operators had scaled down or shut down entirely, leading to reduced supply across the communities.
Similarly, a sachet water producer, Mr Jude Makera, said frequent outages often halted production for extended periods, sometimes lasting days or even up to a week, drastically reducing output.
“We depend on electricity for every stage of production, from water purification to sealing. When there is no power, everything stops, and running generators daily is simply too expensive,” he said.
Makera warned that the situation was placing an additional burden on low-income households, which are already grappling with rising fuel and transportation costs, as they now have to pay more for water.
He urged authorities to act swiftly, noting that the sachet water and ice block businesses remain a major source of livelihood for many families in the affected communities.
