Spatial Analysis of Electricity Supply Reliability and Its Effects on Small Businesses in Nnewi, Anambra State

Reliable electricity supply is a critical infrastructure foundation for urban economic productivity, and its chronic unreliability in Nigerian cities imposes disproportionate burdens on small and medium-scale enterprises. This study conducts a spatial analysis of electricity supply reliability and examines its effects on small business performance in Nnewi, Anambra State, an industrial town known for auto parts manufacturing and trade. A descriptive survey was used to collect data from 210 small business owners across selected commercial districts on electricity supply hours per day, generator fuel expenditure, productive capacity losses, and investment deterrence attributed to power supply failure. Spatial mapping of power outage frequency using survey-reported data was employed to identify zones of acute electricity deficit. Secondary data on distribution transformer locations, feeder load profiles, and outage records were obtained from the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company. Findings are expected to document severe electricity supply deficits affecting the majority of surveyed businesses, with generator fuel costs representing a significant proportion of operating costs and constraining profit margins. The study examines the spatial relationship between electricity supply reliability and business density, identifying zones where infrastructure gaps are most economically damaging. Recommendations address prioritization of distribution network upgrade in commercial zones, development of industrial cluster-based mini-grid solutions, and advocacy for reliable power supply as a component of urban economic development planning in Nnewi's local development framework. Keywords: Electricity supply, Small businesses, Nnewi, Urban infrastructure, Economic development.