Aba Tailors Rally Against High Electricity Costs and Alleged Extortion

Tailors in Aba, the bustling commercial hub of Abia State, have taken to the streets to voice their frustration over the steep electricity charges and alleged extortion by Aba Power Limited (APL), a subsidiary of Geometric Power. The tailors claim that the exorbitant estimated bills from the electricity company are severely impacting their businesses, despite inconsistent power supply.

During a protest on Wednesday, the tailors highlighted the adverse effects of the electricity company’s practices on their trade and expressed their discontent. Ikenna Agu, one of the protesting tailors, shared that the electricity company often resorts to using police and military personnel to intimidate them into paying bills, narrating an incident where soldiers disconnected their lines without warning and assaulted them.

Agu emphasized that the bills issued by APL were disproportionately high, far exceeding the number of shops in their building. He called upon the Abia State Government to intervene and rectify the situation.

Ugochukwu Iheme, another tailor, accused APL of making their lives miserable, while Ebere Okoro pointed out the disparity between the bills they receive and the actual energy they use.

However, Aba Power Limited’s Chief Commercial Officer, Blessing Ogbe, swiftly refuted the allegations. Ogbe explained that the tailors’ clusters were connected to the most active electricity feeder, ensuring service between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. daily. She stated that the company adheres to regulatory guidelines and challenged the tailors to present their bills for verification.

Ogbe revealed that the company is aware that multiple tailors often share a single shop and pay for only a fraction of those individuals. In response to the situation, Chimezie Okegwu, the Commissioner for Trade, Commerce, and Industry, expressed the intention to investigate the allegations of extortion and verify their legitimacy. He highlighted the need to ascertain if the charges were genuinely excessive and if they were collected appropriately.