Small businesses in the Federal Capital Territory and Nasarawa State are struggling under the weight of high operational costs, particularly due to unreliable electricity and soaring petrol prices. With petrol selling between N1,300 and N1,400 per litre, businesses reliant on generators face steep daily expenses. Many shop owners and manufacturers say the cost of running generators for basic operations has become unsustainable. A tailor in Wuse Market, Abuja, said, "I spend over N8,000 weekly just to power my machines — that's more than half my profit." In Lafia, Nasarawa State, bakery owners report similar challenges, with one stating, "The cost of baking one tray of bread now includes N1,200 for fuel alone." The situation has forced some businesses to reduce working hours or shut down temporarily. The FCT Business Owners Association has called for urgent interventions, citing a sharp drop in daily turnover across small enterprises. Inflation and currency depreciation have further strained supply chains, increasing the price of raw materials. Some operators now charge customers more, risking loss of patronage. Others have cut staff or reduced wages to stay afloat.
The N1,400 petrol price is not just a number — it is a direct hit on the daily survival of small businesses relying on generators. When a tailor in Wuse spends N8,000 weekly on fuel to run sewing machines, the economics of micro-enterprises begin to collapse. This pressure on small operators, like the bakery owner spending N1,200 per tray on fuel, means fewer jobs and higher prices for ordinary Nigerians. Without stable power, every spike at the pump translates to shrinking livelihoods.
