Exhibitors clamour for 24 hours power supply

Different exhibitors at the on-going Lagos International Trade fair have identified poor power supply as the major impediment to the growth of their businesses in Nigeria.

In an interview with our reporter, it was gathered from various business owners and sales representatives that the high cost of fuelling generating sets was affected businesses negatively and leading to increase in the cost of production.

Most business owners, especially those who rely on power supply for their businesses, have appealed to the government to scale up power supply to 20 or 24 hours a day for profit maximization.

Speaking to Daily Trust, the managing director of B.W. Foods Limited, Babatunde Wilkey, lamented the poor power supply which, he said, has affected his business.

He urged government to improve electricity supply in the country in order to further assist the ease of doing business agenda.

He said his company, which specialized in selling fresh meat, fish and poultry foods to the populace, will expand more if he spent less on fuelling generator to keep his products fresh.

He said improved power supply would assist him in maximizing profit and reducing the cost of production.

A sales representative with Honeywell Flourmills, Omotayo, said the cost of procuring diesel for the company’s generators for production was alarming.

He stated that the cost of fuel would be added to the overall cost of production which will eventually lead to an increase in the price of goods.

“If the government can give us constant power supply of 20 out of 24 hours, that will help reduce the cost of production drastically and also make the prices of goods to reduce,” he said.