With the FIFA World Cup already lifting businesses for entrepreneurs notably restaurant and bar operators, viewing centres owners, operators in the sport betting sector and sports items, generator dealers are also smiling to the banks.
From wholesale to retail traders, technicians and specialists in generator repair, spare parts dealers and those who specialise in rentals, this is no doubt one of their best seasons as majority of those who spoke with Market Place wished that the World Cup games should be everyday affair.
With the dwindling electricity supply, it is expected that the demand for generator services will be on the high side this period as many cannot afford to miss a moment of the tournament.
According to Nigeria Association of Energy Economists, out of about 45 per cent of Nigerians connected to electricity, only 25 per cent based in the urban area enjoys regular supply of electricity in a population more than 180 million people.
The reality on ground has prompted soccer fans and many others, who cannot afford the cost of inverter to get their generating sets in good condition while others have procured new ones because they do not rely on natural electricity.
Quite a number of generator repair technicians have been busy since the kick off of the World Cup in Russia.
A technician in Iyana Ipaja, Lagos, Femi Ade said his business has received a boost. In fact, he said customers now queue up to have their generating sets fixed.
“It has been like this for two weeks before the kickoff of the tournament, as you can see, (pointing to up to 30 faulty generating sets waiting to be repaired), one can’t be sure of when one will get all these done unless one deploys extra effort and this is why I’ve been sleeping in my workshop for some period now. More are still coming as you know generator can stop functioning anytime and once it happens, we are the next point of call because many people in this area are not bouyant enough to get a new set immediately one packs up and not so many use or can afford inverter in this area.“
An Abule Egba resident, who identified himself as Mr. Emeka disclosed that he has three generating sets in his house presently. He said while two have just been serviced for effectiveness, he recently acquired a new one just to ensure that power is not a problem for him during the tournament.
A retailer who simply identified himself as Daddy Tase said: ‘’The rate at which I’m selling these days, one who doesn’t know me deeply would think that I’m involved in money rituals. Market has never been this good most especially the small sizes. Though it presently sells for 25,000 but call it a price higher than that, customers don’t mind paying for it all in the spirit of World Cup. So far, I’ve realised enough money to roof my house. Abeg, we don’t mind having World Cup every year.†A stroll around Aboru area in Iyana Ipaja area of Lagos on Saturday night further proved right the fear of many as the whole area was left in a total blackout despite the fact that Nigeria was playing.
For those who were lucky to have their generator in good condition, they were able to watch the match from the comfort of their houses, while others flooded commercial viewing centres to have a glimpse of the match even though Nigeria lost out.
Another repairer in Meiran, Mr. Samson Akintade pointed out that for two days, he didn’t take his bath because many customers brought their generating sets for servicing.
“As much as I don’t like exploiting people, I’m making more money now than never before. Usually servicing 3000kv and I better pass my neighbour size go for N2,000 and N1,000 respectively but I’m charging higher now while customers are not complaining. This is because they know that this is a busy period for generator technicians.â€
