The Management of Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KEDC) has apologised to its customers over the blackout experienced in Kaduna, Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states in the past two days.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Head, Corporate communications of the Company, AbdulAzeez Abdullahi in Kaduna on Tuesday.
The statement attributed the prolonged power outage to system failure recorded from the national grid as result of the nationwide strike action embarked upon by oil workers.
According to the statement, supply is just gradually being restored after the agreement was reached by the federal government and unions in the petroleum sector.
It disclosed that Kaduna Electric was ready to deliver power to its customers as soon as it begins receiving supply from the Transmission Company of Nigeria, (TCN).
The statement said that the company has taken steps to fix back poles that fell in some parts of Kaduna as a result of the heavy rains, to ensure efficient power supply.
It urged its customers to be patient as normal supply would soon be restored.
The power blackout has been a boon for generator sellers in Kano, as demand soars.
Prices of gasoline generators have gone up in Kano because of the poor power supply being experienced in the city.
A survey by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) revealed that a medium generator which used to cost N30, 000 three months ago is now sold at between N40, 000 and N45, 000.
The survey further showed that a bigger portable generator cost between N70, 000 and N85, 000, as against the N55, 000 and N65, 000, respectively.
NAN also learnt that the current the hot weather in the area is another factor responsible for the high demand for the generators and the hike in their prices.
‘’The excessive heat has compelled many people who have the means to purchase the generator,’’ a resident, Malam Musa Sani, said.
Sani called on the Federal Government to resuscitate the power sector to end the suffering of the people.
One of the generator sellers, Ibrahim Ma’aruf, told NAN that he used to sell six gasoline generators in a day.
“The demand is usually very high during the heat season, but this year, the demand is higher than that of last year,’’ Ma’aruf said.
Another seller, Mr Eze Chukwudi, said, “I sell as many as seven generators everyday because of this inclement weather”.