Fuel Hits N1,300, Three-Week Blackout Cripples Businesses in Akwa Ibom as Residents Lament Rising Hardship

Tricycles double fares, basic services become costlier as power outage and soaring petrol prices squeeze households and small businesses in Uyo and beyond.

Residents and business owners across Akwa Ibom State are grappling with worsening economic hardship as a steep rise in fuel prices and a prolonged power outage continue to disrupt daily life and commercial activities.

Petrol now sells for as high as N1,300 per litre, a development that many say has compounded the impact of a blackout that has lasted nearly three weeks across parts of the oil-rich state.

The combined pressure has slowed down economic activities and forced many small businesses to shut temporarily as the cost of running generators becomes increasingly unsustainable.

Transport, basic services now cost more

The ripple effect is already visible in everyday transactions.

Tricycle operators who previously charged N100 for short trips now demand N200, while a cold sachet of water, previously sold at two for N50, now sells for N100.

Photocopying services have also doubled, with business centres charging N100 per page, up from the previous N50.

For many residents, these price increases reflect the growing strain on livelihoods in the state.

Small businesses grinding to a halt

Chimaobi, a resident of Afaha Ube in the state capital, Uyo, said the blackout has forced him to suspend his ice block business.

“For over two weeks now, I have not done anything because of this issue of light,” he said.

“I can’t buy fuel at N1,250 or N1,300 to power my generator because, at the end of the day, I will run at a loss.”

Households are also feeling the impact. Many women interviewed said the lack of electricity means they can no longer cook large quantities of food and preserve them in refrigerators.

Electricity distributor explains blackout

The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) attributed the ongoing outage to a fault on the Aba–Itu 132kV transmission line, which supplies power to the state.

In a statement issued over the weekend, the company assured residents that engineers were working to resolve the problem and restore electricity.

Aging infrastructure blamed

Akwa Ibom currently receives electricity from three sources — the national grid through the Aba–Itu 132kV transmission line, the Itu–Adiabo (Calabar) transmission line, and the state-owned Ibom Power Plant.

However, an insider at Ibom Power revealed that the Itu–Adiabo line was vandalised years ago, leaving the Aba–Itu line as the only operational grid connection into the state, alongside electricity generated by the Ibom Power Plant.

The Aba–Itu transmission line, built decades ago, is now considered outdated and frequently develops faults due to its limited capacity.

According to the source, engineers cannot begin repairs immediately because shutting down the line would completely cut off Akwa Ibom from grid electricity.

“The long-term solution is to rehabilitate the Itu–Adiabo line so the state can still receive electricity from another source while work begins on the Aba–Itu line,” the source said.

Temporary solution proposed

Engineers have suggested that repairs on the Aba–Itu line could proceed if Ibom Power maintains steady gas supply to generate electricity for the state during the process.

Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) estimates that reconductoring the Aba–Itu line could take about three months.

During that period, Akwa Ibom would rely entirely on power generated locally by Ibom Power.

Vandalism worsening electricity crisis

The Transmission Company of Nigeria also raised concerns about repeated vandalism affecting the Ikot Abasi–Eket transmission line, which transmits electricity produced by Ibom Power.

The line was vandalised in November last year, but the Managing Director of Ibom Power, Engr. Camillus Umoh, reportedly intervened to ensure repairs were carried out quickly.

TCN further disclosed that several electricity projects in the state had been abandoned due to youth unrest and community demands for compensation.

The company called on the Akwa Ibom State Government to help sensitise residents on the importance of protecting power infrastructure to prevent further disruptions.