Club operators decry poor sales as power outage persists
NAN-
Clubs
By Justina Auta
Abuja, March 19, 2018 (NAN) Operators of some clubs and recreational centres in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have expressed concerns over the epileptic power supply in the city, saying it has impacted negatively on their business.
Some of the operators, who spoke to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, said the epileptic supply had increased the cost of running their business and affected patronage.
Others said the epileptic power supply had also compelled them to rely on fuel and diesel, as well as resorted to the purchase ice blocks to cool their drinks.
Mr Lanrai Moses, the Manager, Cool and Chill club, Kpaduma district, said: “we have not had electricity supply for over three weeks now.”
According to him, the club relies more on ice block dealers to supply at N150 each per bag to enable them have cold drinks to offer their customers.
Also, Mr Feyi Samuel, Manager of Spice Club, said the situation has led to the forceful closure of business during week days; “we now open only on Saturdays to reduce the cost of running the club daily as we now have just few customers.’’
Similarly, Linus Aboki who runs a viewing center, one said the outage had also forced him to charge his viewers more to watch football matches in his viewing center.
“People prefer to come here to watch football matches rather than stay at home to enable them fratenise with others, bet, argue and be entertained.
“ But because of the inconsistency in power supply, we have to rely on fuel to power our generator to keep our business running because we cannot just close the centre and wait until NEPA decides to restore electricity power.’’
According to him, the N50 increase on each match which hitherto was N50, has affected patronage, as the management were very strict about payment before gaining entrance to the centre.
He said also that the decision has affected his relationship with his old customers.
A resident of Maraba, Mrs Ifeoma Anthony, a petty trader said she no longer makes much gain from her pure water and soft drinks business due to the power outage.
“The gain is so little because I have to buy ice block daily for N150 in other to have cold drinks; I am just running the business with the hope that this power issue will be resolved as soon as possible.
On her own part, Mrs Asabe Abelo, a health worker and mother of five appealed to the electricity power company to restore electricity supply in Kpaduma community to prevent any outbreak of epidermic.
“The weather is very hot now and there are recorded cases of meningitis, heat rashes especially on children.
“I believe with constant supply of electricity; this would be prevented,’’ she said. (NAN)
JAD/EAL
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Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi