Ice block producers demand improved electricity

By Mujidat Oyewole

Electricity

Ilorin, March 9, 2020 (NAN) Ice block producers in Kwara have called on government to improve electricity supply and make business easier and profitable for them.

They made the appeal in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin on Monday.

Mr Jamiu Suleiman, an Ice block producer at Taiwo road, Ilorin, said the distribution company has not been fair with the way they provide electricity in the state.

While noting that there are few areas that have stable electricity in the state, Suleiman said others are suffering from power failure, especially those that need electricity for their business.

“We producers of Ice block needs electricity to power our refrigerators and it has been difficult for us to have power for five hours with out interruption from the power holding

“Many of us had to move from one area to another area with better power supply, and this is costing us lots of money and inconvenience,” he said.

Suleiman however said that Ice block business is very lucrative and profitable, but can be frustrating and unprofitable when there is no good power supply.

“An Ice block does not need much money for production, except water and nylon for package, and it does not demand any form of stress during production

“An ice block is sold for N100 and a 25 litre water can produce 12 to 15 pieces of ice block, and we can sell an average of 80 pieces daily, which amount to N8,000,” he said.

Alhaja Mariam Oba, another ice block seller at Airport road, Ilorin said that power supply in the area needs to improve, especially during the heat period when there are more demand for cold drinks.

She said that the number of population in areas with out good power supply in the state is more than those with good power supply, which she said was the reason for the demand of cold drinks and also demand for ice block.

“Ice block is a lucrative business, especially during the heat period, but it has to be set up in a place with power supply,” she said.

Mr Bayo Abdulwahab, an Ice bock machine seller, also confirmed the high profit in ice block business, but said that the business could only be enjoyed in areas with good power supply.

Abdulwahab said that most of the customers that he had constructed the local ice block machine for, had returned to him for a bigger size, because of the demand in their areas.

“Most of the customers are working class and reside in areas with good power supply. They only have to load the machine in the evening, by the next morning, all would have been blocked and ready for supply,” he said.

The Ice block machine seller said that he had a medical doctor customer, that bought a local machine that produces 80 pieces of ice block from him, and later requested for another machine that produces 150 pieces.

“This doctor have four different sizes of local machine in his house now, and supplies market women on daily basis, with two boys helping him to load the machines,” he said.

Abdulwahab said that the local machine is affordable and durable, adding that it can easily be repaired in case of any problem that may occur, adding that most of the fault is caused by poor power supply. (NAN)
MOB/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola