On Wednesday, tailors in Aba, the capital and largest city of Abia State, protested what they claimed was extortion by Geometric Power subsidiary Aba Power Limited (APL).
According to OBASANJO NEWS24 , the demonstrators claimed that despite APL’s provision of epileptic power, the corporation was attempting to drive them out of business by charging inflated prices.
Mr. Onyebuchi Nwigwe, a former chairman of the state’s Association of Tailors and Fashion Designers, claimed that members were unhappy with APL’s actions because they were hurting their business.
Ikenna Agu, another tailor, expressed their hurt at the company’s use of police and military to pressure them into making a payment.
He claimed that on Saturday, the company sent soldiers to their place of business, disconnected their connections without prior notice, and beat up some of them, including some clients.
He made an urgent request to the state government to step in and order the business.
I don’t have up to 24 hours of light in a month, therefore how can I be spending N18,000 a month for electricity in my small shop?
He added, “They bring 38 bills into our building, but there aren’t 38 shops here.”
According to Mr. Blessing Ogbe, Chief Commercial Officer of APL, who refuted the accusations, the tailors’ clusters were situated on the busiest energy feeder.
The Commissioner for Trade, Commerce, and Industry, Dr. Chimezie Okegwu, denied knowledge of the tailors’ protest and grievance when he was called.
However, Okegwu pledged that after receiving a formal report, the state government will look into the alleged extortion.
He pledged that the government would not put up with people’ and corporate interests being blackmailed.
“Any extortion is illegal as long as it is genuine extortion, but it’s also important for us to determine whether it is,” he said.
