One way Nigerians have used to gain ease and save time in the many household tasks they undertake is the use of electrical equipment.
In the days before pre-paid meters, homes bought a lot of appliances, including deep freezers, electric stoves, cookers, blenders, washing machines, boiling rings, pressing irons, and more, to either improve their kitchens or save time on daily tasks.
Many people, particularly women, participate in thrift’s contribution (also known as ajo or esusu in Nigeria) to raise money to buy some of these gadgets, making the manufacturers and distributors happy in the process. But since the advent of prepaid meters, the economy and lifestyle have found that many homes have given up using the majority of these devices.
Some sold them to individuals who were still using post-paid meters or to vendors of reasonably used goods, BrandSpur Technology and information news reports.
A banker named Mrs. Bridget Johnson stated: “Since I started using prepaid meter, I have stopped using most of my gadgets, especially the electric cooker, washing machine, pressing iron, among other things.
“We watch television set once a day. I had to buy an iPad where I downloaded various types of cartoons and educational materials for my kids to keep them busy. We switch off the lights and put on my fridge for three hours and switch it off once it is iced for a day.”
She went further to reveal: “The rate at which the prepaid meter runs is alarming of recent. Before I pay N32 per unit, and when I load N10,000 with strict adherence to the rules my husband and I placed in the house, it lasts us up to two weeks for the bills to get exhausted. But recently, I discovered that when I loaded the N10,000 it wasn’t up to the two weeks before it finished.
“I had to call the electricity distribution office where they told me I had been transferred to band A. I was so pissed off with such a transition but had no choice but to accept it.
“In Nigeria of today you have to cut costs whether you like it or not,” she added.
“Using a prepaid meter has its own advantages,” stated a businessman, Mr. Shodimu Olorunfemi. “One of them is regulating what you consume.”
Continuing, he had this to say: “By doing so you have to forfeit carrying out certain lifestyles, especially using electronic gadgets that consume lots of electricity.
“Such gadgets like electric cookers, hot plates, pressing irons, refrigerators, and Air conditioners, among others, consume higher units of electricity,” he added.
He went on to disclose In his house, he prohibited the switching on of lights during the day and also watching television all the time.
Speaking further, he stated: “Except I have a very important event I want to attend, I don’t iron my clothes. I pick the clothes for each day and hang them to straighten up.
He, however, pointed out that he and his wife had to give out most of our gadgets to family members and friends who use postpaid meters.
Also read: https://brandspurng.com/2024/09/17/intel-to-separate-foundry-business-as-independent-subsidiary/
He added: “With this development and the state of the economy, those selling electronic gadgets are on the losing side because people like us will not even have a spoilt gadget talk of buying a new one.”
Another banker, Mrs. Bakare Judith, who recently got married, said she sold all her electrical appliances that are power-draining.
She had this to say: “I had to sell most of the electric gadgets I brought to my husband’s house when I discovered that he was using a prepaid meter. I use the blender once in two months and ironing is done once in a blue moon.”
