Tailors in Aba, the business hub of Abia, on Wednesday, staged a protest in opposition to alleged extortion by Aba Power Limited, APL, a subsidiary of Geometric Power.
The protesters alleged that despite the epileptic energy provide from APL, the corporate was attempting to run them out of enterprise with estimated payments.
A former Chairman of the Association of Tailors and Fashion Designers within the state, Onyebuchi Nwigwe, mentioned that they weren’t proud of the actions of APL which, he mentioned, have been affecting their commerce.
Another tailor, Ikenna Agu, mentioned that they have been pained as a result of the corporate was utilizing policemen and troopers to harass and intimidate them to pay.
He mentioned that the corporate got here with troopers on Saturday to their enterprise premises, disconnected their traces with out prior warning and in addition beat up a few of them, together with some prospects.
Mr Agu appealed to the State Government to urgently intervene and name the corporate to order.
According to him, what’s painful concerning the problem is that APL provides us payments which can be greater than the variety of outlets we’ve got in a block.
“How can I be paying N18,000 monthly in my small shop, when I don’t have up to 24 hours light in a month?
“They bring 38 bills in our own building which does not have 38 shops,” he mentioned.
Also, Ugochukwu Iheme, one other tailor mentioned that “APL is making life miserable for them” and that the demonstration was meant to show the fraud within the firm.
Mr Ebere Okoro additionally mentioned the issue was that the invoice was not commensurate with the vitality they provide.
Okoro urged the federal government to step into the matter and cease APL from persevering with to extort them.
The Chief Commercial Officer of APL, Blessing Ogbe, debunked the allegations, saying that the tailors’ clusters have been positioned on the busiest electrical energy feeder.
Ogbe mentioned that the corporate ensured that the feeder serves between 12pm and 6pm each day, including that it was not true that they have been positioned on estimated billing.
He additional mentioned that APL ensured that the National Electricity Regulatory Commission capping order was utilized.
He challenged the tailors to carry the invoice to cross-check the capping of that month.
He accused them of attempting to chop corners, saying that he was conscious that there could possibly be as much as 30 individuals in a store however they’d wish to pay the invoice for 3 tailors.
He additionally mentioned that APL is at all times open to dialogue, including that efforts have been in prime gear to make sure improved energy provide within the metropolis.
When contacted, the Commissioner for Trade, Commerce and Industry, Dr Chimezie Okegwu, mentioned that he was not conscious of the protest and criticism by the tailors.
Mr Okegwu, nonetheless, promised that the State Government would examine the alleged extortion, when a proper report had been obtained by the ministry.
The commissioner promised that authorities wouldn’t tolerate the extortion of enterprise considerations and residents generally.
“Any extortion is illegal as long as it is truly extortion but another thing is for us to know if it is really extortion.
“It may be legitimate but a legitimate thing could also be done wrongly.
“We have to check if it is extortion or a legitimate fee, the timing and how it was done.
“One thing is very certain, that we are always on the side of the traders and our citizens.
“We are all out to alleviate their pains rather then increase their burden.
“We also have to understand that the DisCo is in business to make profit but I always tell them that they must not maximise that profit.
“Make it in a way that it will be suitable and moderate for all and that is why we will step in,” Mr Okegwu mentioned.
NAN
