By Ezumezu Nonyelum
The recurring collapse of Nigeria’s national grid has again thrown millions into darkness, with residents of Enugu metropolis the latest to lament prolonged power outages disrupting homes and businesses.
For weeks, parts of Enugu have endured erratic or no electricity supply, a situation locals link to the instability of the national grid which has dropped repeatedly this year. The impact is biting hard across households and small businesses.
At Ogbete Main Market, charcoal seller Chinelo Nwankwo said the blackout has forced her to abandon her refrigerator for food storage. “Gas is too expensive for cooking, and my landlord banned charcoal, saying it’s dangerous. Without light, I’m stuck,” she said, urging government to restore stable power for daily use.
Residents say the outage is also ruining perishables. Nkemjika Onyia, a civil servant with UNTH who lives at Eugeneoba, Uwani, expressed frustration that food items in her home keep spoiling. “Welders around me stay idle all day because there’s no light to work. We are suffering,” she said, calling on authorities to urgently address the grid failures.
For traders, the losses are mounting. Provision seller Nkechi Nnaji noted that her soft drinks remain warm, driving customers away. “When drinks are not chilled, people don’t buy. I’m losing money every day,” she added.
Artisans are equally hit. Electrician Ifeanyi Eze said the blackout has crippled his business. “No light, no work. Customers don’t even call me for electrical maintenance because what’s the point without power? This situation is unbearable,” he stressed.
The complaints from Enugu reflect a wider national frustration as businesses and households continue to count losses from unstable power linked to grid collapses. Residents are appealing to the Federal Government and power stakeholders to find a lasting solution.
Nonyelum is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State
