Akachukwu Abimbola has known nothing but the fisherman´s life. He has spent at least 20 years of this life fishing in Oron, a coastal city in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. For him, his life is based on fishing, and by doing that, he can raise his family. However, things have been getting difficult for him in the past few years since frequent power cuts have been affecting his daily earnings, and he is getting older, making him worry about his future.
“Here in Oron, the crayfish is very popular and of good quality. On a good season, I can make up to 40,000 Naira a month, but with the frequent power cuts, my job has been affected since the business I sold my fresh catch of the day is not always paying because they can not grant the cold chain required to run their business. Which complicated the situation not only for me but also for every job involved in the fish sector,” explained Abimbola, who, at 45 years old, managed to run a family of 4.
Certainly, in fishing villages in Akwa Ibom State, the power cuts have affected ice-producer companies—the ones that can guarantee fresh fish from fishermen like Abimbola. The price of prawns has increased significantly, with one kilogramme selling for N18,000 against its previous price of N12,000. This happens because ice producers need to spend more on fuel to keep their machines running.
Fish Producers Rely on Ice Packs, Which Can Be Expensive to Obtain
Due to Nigeria’s precarious power supply, there is a high demand for ice blocks, creating a lucrative business opportunity for people living in areas with a more stable power supply or who can source an alternative power supply. However, for small businesses and producers, the scarcity of ice blocks causes traders to spend more money on fish preservation, increasing the price of fish.
“Look at this piece of ice block; I used to buy it for N400 or N450, but now it is N800. Some people are selling it for N1000. Now, I need about 200kg of prawns to send to my customers in Lagos, and each 100kg will require about 13 pieces of ice blocks,” Says Victoria Iyamore, owner of a fish business in the town of Ibaka, 27 kilometres from Oron, who told Premium Times about the rising cost of essential resources.
Mrs Iyamore depends on ice packs (popularly called ice blocks) to preserve her daily fresh fish catch from the nearby sea. She and her family need a steady supply of ice blocks to preserve the fish they sell to customers.
“We use ice blocks to preserve our fresh fish here, but my biggest problem in recent days is poor power supply. I experienced wastage some days ago, and now I am troubled about how to cope with the high cost of fuel and poor power supply,” Mrs Iyamore said in March.
The fishermen in the area still maintain the traditional method of fishing, using boats and nets for most of their operations. Despite the potential in the sector, power supply for the preservation of their fresh catch remains a challenge for fish traders in the state.
“I was about to quit.”
Abimbola remembered the day when he thought he was not going to live from fishing anymore, “It may sound crazy now, but back in time, when my local seller told me due to their business being affected by power cuts, they could not buy me my fresh catches quite often because it will become a lose for them. There was even a week when I earned less than 5,000N in a week that month was worth almost 20,000N, and my main client was not actively buying due to their issue with the cold chain and the rise of preservatives for their stock. It was difficult for me, and I thought to switch my job and move to farming to keep providing more for my family”, concluded Abimbola.
The Nigerian government recently approved a plan for 25 photovoltaic plants. The minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, announced the proposed establishment of three gigawatts of solar energy sources across the 25 states in the north and southwest parts of the country to tackle the issues associated with the country’s power supply and achieve a more sustainable life for all Nigerians.
“We have investment proposals for establishment of three gigawatts of solar energy sources across 25 states in the north and south-west. We are also encouraging state governments to invest in power generation in their states,” added Adelabu. However, these efforts might take time, time that fishermen like Abimbola or Iyamore do not have.
Alternative and Reliable Power Sources Help Small Businesses Keep Growing
Many traders and small fish business owners rely on generators, with the high cost of petroleum products like diesel affecting their prices and profits. Ibaka and Oron are two of Nigeria’s major fishing hubs that are affected by the poor power supply.
In this scenario of expensive fuel for generators, fishermen like Abimbola found a solution by investing to continue their business. “My local buyer gathered us (he and other fishermen in Oron). They told us that in order to keep buying us our fresh catch every day, we would get a discount of a small amount weekly to buy an inverter battery. At first, we were sceptical, but things were not going well, so we all made the decision and bought the thing (inverter and battery). Since then, we have our fresh catch secured to be bought since small businesses like the one I sell for can also count on electricity to keep producing ice packs and ensure the cold chain for fish”. Explained.
So, in this case, with a tubular inverter battery, businesses in the fishing industry can power up their machines to keep producing ice blocks and ice packs, granting the cold chain for fish and seafood. Inverters, in combination with a good battery, can power up all the production lines required to keep the food in a healthy state, ice-maker machines, air conditioning rooms, and, of course, light to keep running the business when the sun sets.
Abimbola also said that the business he works for offered him the option of buying him an inverter battery for his home, and he could pay them in parts. This small business in Oron has found a little light for growing while helping each other with a reliable power supply like an inverter battery.
“I always hope the electric situation gets better, but fishermen like me need to think about what to bring to their homes tomorrow. I am also getting older, so I must provide as much as I can. Having a Star Plus inverter battery by my side helps my profession keep working without issue, which makes me glad. And I recommend everyone invest in one.”
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Inverter batteries have become a great solution due to their cost-effectiveness. These batteries will save you more money than spending on daily litres of Diesel for generators.
Tubular Inverter batteries like the ones we have here at Star Plus will ensure a continuous flow of energy powering houses and businesses alike. If you are looking for alternatives to facing power cuts in your area, contact us, and we will provide you with the best solution for your needs.