{"id":100513,"date":"2022-10-19T20:32:27","date_gmt":"2022-10-19T19:32:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/?p=100513"},"modified":"2022-10-19T20:32:27","modified_gmt":"2022-10-19T19:32:27","slug":"aba-business-owners-task-geometric-company-to-stop-engaging-soldiers-to-collect-bills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/aba-business-owners-task-geometric-company-to-stop-engaging-soldiers-to-collect-bills\/","title":{"rendered":"Aba Business owners task Geometric Company to stop engaging soldiers to collect bills"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Business owners in Aba, Abia State, have tasked the Geometric Power Company to stop engaging soldiers to collect electricity bills in the city.<\/div>\n
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The business owners stated this while protesting alleged harassment and intimidation from soldiers who usually accompany Geometric power company to collect monthly bills<\/div>\n
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Speaking during the protest, Chairman, Watchtower Road transformer electricity consumers forum, Aba, Mr. Ojukwu Joshua Imo, alleged that soldiers who accompany workers of Geometric Power Company to collect revenue, have been shooting guns and intimidating consumers while trying to collect bills in the area.<\/div>\n
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He explained that the action of the soldiers have been causing panic in the area as electricity consumers usually abandon their houses and shops for fear of their lives.<\/div>\n
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He said; “Many people closed their shops and ran for their lives, because of the activities of the Geometric power people engaging soldiers to collect revenue. We are wondering if there is war here. They even keep threatening business people here that they’ll come back to arrest them for refusing to pay the estimated billing they’re giving to us on monthly basis.<\/div>\n
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“As if that was not enough, they came again with members of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) who harass us all in the name of trying to collect electricity bills. We’re asking Geometric power whether they want us to run away from this zone, because of them.<\/div>\n
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“If Geometric power can follow the normal NERC regulations in billing us, we’ll pay, but they cannot just wake up one morning and begin to force people to pay any amount. We’ve been educated on our rights according to NERC regulations and it is obvious they’re not giving us power according to the bills they’re issuing to us.<\/div>\n
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A resident of Okereke street in the area, Mr Nnamdi Ajama, also lamented that the use of military men in the collection of electricity bills is causing panic in the area.<\/div>\n
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“We found out that the Geometric power workers even lied to the soldiers that we were fighting them. We have 30 days in a month, our line is rotated. They give us light for only 15 days, not even all day, but after 15 days of power they’ll bring N17, 000 estimated bills to each house, is that fair.<\/div>\n
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“We are appealing to the the federal\u00a0 and the Abia State government to stop from engaging soldiers to collect bills.\u00a0 We’re law-abiding people. We don’t want to fight and we’re saying that coming with armed men to intimidate us here may lead to a breakdown of law and order.<\/div>\n
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Addressing the protesting consumers, Executive Secretary, Joint Action Group ,JAG,Chief Ike Opigwe, condemned the use of soldiers for revenue collection and urged the electricity consumers to always stand on their rights and not be intimidated.<\/div>\n
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He disclosed that the estimate billing the Geometric power company has been giving to its customers under the Aba 33KV Feeder is not in line with NERC regulations.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Business owners in Aba, Abia State, have tasked the Geometric Power Company to stop engaging soldiers to collect electricity bills in the city. 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