Frozen Food Prices Skyrocket in Epe as Power Supply Woes Persist

In Epe, a community in Lagos State, the persistent electricity crisis is taking a heavy toll on local market vendors, particularly those in Ayetoro who specialize in frozen foods.

Frequent blackouts are crippling their operations and leading to a significant increase in food prices, EKO HOT BLOG reports.

The traders, who specialize in frozen items like fish, turkey, and chicken, are grappling with severe operational challenges due to persistent power outages.

The unreliable electricity supply compels them to depend heavily on diesel generators to prevent their goods from spoiling.

“The cost of fuel has become unsustainable,” one trader lamented.

“To keep our products fresh, we have no option but to run generators, and this added expense is inevitably passed on to our customers.”

The repercussions of this crisis are evident in the skyrocketing prices of frozen foods.

With the costs of fuel and generator maintenance rising sharply, local consumers are bearing the brunt of these increases.

The escalating food prices are not only affecting traders’ profits but also placing a significant strain on household budgets.

Market women are now turning their plea to the government, urging urgent intervention to rectify the electricity supply issues in Epe.

“Epe is a crucial part of Lagos, and it is unacceptable for us to continue suffering from inadequate electricity provision,” another trader asserted.

“We need immediate action to address this issue and relieve us from these financial pressures.”

The situation has extended beyond the market, with residents feeling the economic strain as well.

The surge in food prices has contributed to a higher cost of living, impacting daily expenses for families across Epe.

The community’s frustration is mounting, with increasing calls for reliable power supply to restore economic stability and ensure that the cost of living does not spiral further out of control.

Local officials have made efforts to address the power crisis, but tangible results have been scarce.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that residents of Epe Division recently staged a protest to lament what they termed power outage by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) in the community for over one year.

They said that Epe community had been without power supply in the last one year.

Responding, one of Ikeja Electric officials told the residents to exercise patience, adding that another transformer would be replaced by May 29, 2024.

However, findings by this reporter have shown that the transformer has not been replaced while the community remains in total darkness.