Kano Power Crisis Deepens: Blackouts and Heat Force Business Shutdowns, Residents Revolt Over Electricity Bills

Prolonged outages cripple livelihoods as communities boycott payments and turn to costly alternatives

Relentless power outages across Kano State are pushing households and businesses to the brink, with rising temperatures compounding the crisis and forcing many small enterprises to shut down.

Across several parts of the state, electricity supply has become increasingly erratic, with some communities reporting days without power and others receiving electricity for less than an hour—often at night when it offers little economic value.

The hardest-hit areas include Naibawa, Unguwar Uku, Mariri, Ja’en, Fagge, Gyadi-Gyadi, Hotoro, and Sheka within Kano metropolis, alongside rural local government areas such as Gabasawa, Wudil, Doguwa, Bichi, Tsanyawa, Bunkure, and Kibiya.

Businesses abandon operations, switch trades

For many small business owners, the outages have translated directly into lost income and forced adaptation.

Hajiya Binta, a cold drinks vendor in Sharada, said her refrigeration business has effectively collapsed.

“The refrigerators I bought for my business have now become like storage boxes for ice,” she said. “We now depend on buying ice every day, and it is getting more expensive—sometimes up to ₦500, especially during Ramadan.”

Similarly, Sulaiman Baba, a 27-year-old apprentice welder in Hotoro, said the lack of electricity has halted operations at his workshop.

“We have stopped welding because there is no power,” he explained. “Before now, we worked at night when electricity came. Now, even that is no longer reliable. I had to switch to carpentry just to survive.”

Shift to alternatives and growing frustration

Residents who can afford it are increasingly turning to solar energy as a more reliable alternative.

Ashiru Tukur, a father of three in Ja’en, said he disconnected from the national grid after enduring months of poor supply despite receiving bills.

“In a whole month, you may not even get up to 10 hours of electricity. Why should I pay for what I didn’t use?” he asked.

Others, speaking anonymously, alleged irregularities in electricity distribution, claiming some businesses may be receiving preferential supply. These claims remain unverified.

Communities push back against billing

The crisis has triggered organised resistance in parts of the state.

Residents in Bichi Local Government Area have suspended payment of electricity bills to the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO), citing persistent failure to provide adequate supply.

The directive was issued by the Sodangi Development Association (BISDA), whose spokesperson, Comrade Na’allazi Bichi, said the decision followed unsuccessful engagements with the distribution company.

“All residents have been directed to stop payment of electricity bills until there is a noticeable improvement in power supply,” the statement read.

The group added that it is prepared to take further steps to defend the community’s interests.

Federal Government apologises, promises relief

The worsening situation in Kano reflects a broader national power challenge, which has drawn a recent apology from the Federal Government.

Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, acknowledged the hardship caused by the outages, particularly amid extreme heat conditions.

“I want to sincerely apologise to Nigerians for this temporary setback,” he said, assuring that improvements are expected within weeks as gas supply issues are resolved and critical infrastructure repaired.

He identified inadequate gas supply as a major constraint to electricity generation and disclosed the formation of a monitoring committee to ensure compliance from suppliers.

Public anger grows amid policy contradictions

Despite these assurances, public confidence remains low. Criticism has intensified following the allocation of ₦7 billion in the 2026 budget for a solar power project at the Presidential Villa.

Many Nigerians argue that while government facilities may enjoy stable electricity, ordinary citizens continue to grapple with unreliable supply.

Data from the World Bank underscores the scale of the challenge, showing Nigeria’s electricity generation has stagnated between 4,000 and 5,000 megawatts for over a decade—far below the needs of its population of more than 200 million.

A system under strain

While power shortages are a nationwide issue, residents say Kano’s situation is particularly severe.

Efforts to obtain a response from KEDCO officials were unsuccessful.

With temperatures rising and outages persisting, many residents say only sustained and measurable improvements—not repeated promises—will restore confidence and revive economic activity.