A man acquired a portion of land about two decades ago but had no money to develop it.
His son came of age and gave him money to build a small bungalow on it.
He finished and fenced the house by mid-last year. At the same time, he applied for a prepaid meter to power the house.
By September last year, he got a payment voucher and paid for the meter immediately.
The meter was finally installed in October last year, but when he tried to make his first recharge, he got only 30% of what he paid for.
He visited the Aba Power office for an explanation, and without any recourse to shame, they told him he had acquired unpaid arrears amounting to ₦144,000.
“Arrears how? It’s just a new building that has never seen electricity na.”
Finally, this February, he was told, “There is nothing we can do, sir.”
This is just one among hundreds of different challenges faced by Aba people in the hands of this exploitative monster called Aba Power, aka Geometrics Power, today.
The amount paid for power bills on estimated billing in Aba per month is now two or three times what people pay for house rent.
Also Read: Abia Moves to Integrate Umuahia into Aba Power Network
Only 1/10 of the entire ring fence is massively installed with prepaid meters today. But the case of these so-called beneficiaries is even worse.
They have to clear 50% of their estimated debt arrears before they can use the prepaid meter.
As I type, many of them have already disconnected themselves from public power.
This is the case of Aba, which people outside the city are celebrating as having 24/7 electricity.
Geometrics Power is here to finish Aba people kpatakpata.
They are already scaring investors away from the Glory City.
I am beginning to think that the owners of the company chose Aba for the power generation business after studying the environment.
Aba is a place where you can commit any crime and go away with it—all you need is the backing of people in authority.
Every Nigerian policeman wants to get posted to Aba due to the mentality of the residents therein.
Everybody in Aba is only focused on their business and always in a hurry. Nobody has the time to ask questions or challenge injustice.
Come to Aba and see policemen with protruding bellies. They are all feeding on the ignorance of the people.
You lead a protest and get arrested, and those behind you will leave you to suffer alone.
This is exactly what the owners of Geometrics Power studied about the city before choosing it as the location for their exploitative business.
Who will bring us out of this mess?
Here👇 is a picture of EU delegates with our governor at the Geometrics Power Office.
Our governor only went there to commend Geometrics Power for their “good work” without addressing the issue of crazy bills suffered by Aba people.
This is the almighty Aba! The land of milk and honey for every exploitative bourgeoisie and uniformed man.
I am just a lone voice in the wilderness.
😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
Chidi Ogudiegwu is an Aba-based journalist and public analyst.
Follow the SouthEast Reporters channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaeq4Y76GcG759UKw00Y
