Kano Businesses Suffer Heavy Losses as KEDCO Strike Triggers Widespread Blackout
A crippling industrial action at the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) has plunged the entire state into darkness, bringing economic activities to a grinding halt and inflicting severe financial damage on local businesses.
Perishable Goods Spoil as Refrigeration Fails
At the bustling Kofar Nassarawa fish market, located opposite Kano Line Park, vendors watched helplessly as their stocks deteriorated due to the complete absence of power for refrigeration. Malam Ado, a trader with over a decade of experience in the market, described the situation as catastrophic.
"This is the worst I have seen in recent years. We are talking about loss of profit that may lead to the complete loss of capital," he lamented. "Now, most of us, the ice has melted, the fish are spoiling, and we are just standing here helplessly. This strike is nothing but a death sentence for our business."
Another vendor, Hassan Sani, revealed he had borrowed money to restock his freezer earlier in the week, only to face total loss. "Everything inside is spoiled. I just have to fry some, and crash the price to sell without thinking of profit. How will I pay back? The people on strike and KEDCO should pity us," he stated.
Production Halts Across Multiple Sectors
The blackout, which entered its second day, has paralyzed operations beyond the fish markets. Halima Abubakar, a bakery owner in the Unguwa Uku area, reported that her production had completely stopped.
"No light, no baking. My dough is wasted, and my customers are disappointed. This is something we are not expecting of KEDCO and its staff to do," she said. "They should please resolve it because it is about the entire economy of Kano being held hostage. They must find a quicker solution."
Residents across the state echoed similar frustrations. Malam Ibrahim Lawan, from Gyadi-Gyadi, criticized the widespread disruption as a form of collective punishment. "While they sort out their internal issues, why must millions of innocent people suffer? Now my small frozen chicken stores are getting warm, and I cannot preserve anything. The impact is too widespread," he expressed.
KEDCO Management Responds to Union Demands
In an official statement signed by its Head of Corporate Communications, Sani Bala Sani, KEDCO management confirmed the blackout was due to an industrial action by the company's two in-house unions. The unions, the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) and the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), are protesting over unresolved legacy issues related to staff welfare.
The management claimed it has prioritized staff welfare since assuming office seven months ago, noting that over 80 percent of the agreed 2025 pension remittances have been paid. Additionally, a transparent promotion exercise recently led to the promotion of 1,500 eligible staff.
Broader Context of Nigeria's Electricity Woes
This local crisis in Kano occurs against a backdrop of national electricity instability. In a related development, Nigeria experienced a nationwide blackout on Friday, January 23, after the national electricity grid collapsed for the first time in 2026. Data from the Nigerian Independent System Operator showed electricity generation dropped to zero megawatts, cutting power to all regions.
Experts indicate that such collapses highlight persistent structural weaknesses in the national grid, despite recent stabilization efforts. Restoration work is typically underway following such incidents, but concerns remain over the frequency of outages and their devastating impact on businesses and daily life across the country.
The ongoing strike in Kano underscores the fragile state of Nigeria's power infrastructure and the dire consequences when distribution companies face internal disputes, leaving millions of citizens and enterprises to bear the brunt of the resulting blackouts.
