The demand for ice blocks is rising in Kano as Ramadan fasting enters its fourth day. The demand though is as a result of the intense heat of about 40 - 41 degrees.
But the recent hike in the price of diesel, including the epileptic power experienced has skyrocketed the price of the product.
Packaged inside big containers or sacks to prevent it from melting easily, a piece of ice in white nylon from the cold room is sold for N300 - N350, while roadside sellers sell theirs for N400 and above. Against the N35 - N50, and N100 - N120 it was sold last year.
At Sharada, a sack of ice blocks goes for N10,000, against the N4,000 it was sold this time last year. While the price of a blocked sachet water bag goes from N1,700 - N2,000.
Nigeria Info learned that each sack contains 100 ice blocks. Also, we observed that roadside sellers normally commence selling from 4:00pm daily at the various roadsides and market areas in the State.
Alkasim Ishak, a seller of ice blocks in Sharada, usually bought 2 sacks of ice blocks for N20,000, against the N8,000 he spent last year.
Ishak revealed that “He sells a white nylon of ice block for N400”.
Another seller, Muhammadu Bello linked the high patronage to the power blackout experienced in the State.
“To be frank the increasing patronage these days apart from Ramadan is as a result of the lack of electricity”.
Bello however urged Kano Electricity Distribution Company KEDCO to address the epileptic power supply experienced in the State.
Immediately the sun sets, cold water is the first thing Ahmad Isiyaku takes as he result of the intense heat.
Isiyaku, a resident of along Tarauni Market said he usually buys ice blocks of N700 - N1,000 daily for his family.
“The first thing I take after breaking my fast is cold water. Because of the heat, every day I buy ice blocks of N700 to N1,000 for myself and my wife, and our five children”.
A leader of Ice Block sellers in Sharada, Abba Idris Musa revealed that despite the hike in price, they still get huge patronage.
Abba further says every day they distribute the ice across the 44 local government areas in the State.
“We are currently selling a sack of ice blocks for N10,000 even though its demand is high. And every day we distribute it across the 44 local government areas”, he said.
Abba who further linked the hiked price of ice to epileptic power supply, stressed that “constant electricity will reduce the price of the product”.
Responding, the Chief Executive Officer of KEDCO, Abubakar Yusuf stressed that “KEDCO has worked out modalities to address blackout in the State”.
