By Kadijatu Bangura, Reporter D.S
Makeni, SL Mounting frustration over Makeni’s prolonged blackout has drawn civil society groups, traders, journalists, and commercial bike riders into a joint push for urgent government intervention, as businesses warn of closures and daily losses.
The coalition, representing stakeholders across Bombali District, met with officials from the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) and the Electricity Generation and Transmission Company (EGTC) two weeks ago to demand solutions to the city’s erratic power supply.
Coalition members said electricity briefly improved within 48 hours of the talks. But the relief was short-lived. Large sections of Makeni have since returned to darkness, deepening the strain on commerce and daily life.
Local business owners say they are absorbing the worst of the outage. Operators of restaurants, fisheries, water bottling plants, and cold-storage vendors report rising costs and spoiled stock due to the lack of reliable refrigeration. Some warn they may be forced to shut down if supply does not stabilize.
“We are losing perishable goods every day,” one market trader said. “Without power, there’s no way to keep stock fresh. We’re running at a loss.”
Commercial bike riders and other informal workers say the blackout is also cutting into earnings. With streets darker and economic activity slowed, many report fewer customers and reduced operating hours.
The coalition is calling on EDSA and EGTC to provide a clear timeline for restoration and to address what it describes as a failure in service delivery. Residents say the city’s economic health depends on a swift, lasting resolution.
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