ATWAP Protest Extortion by Delta State Coordinator of SON

Members of the Association Table Water Producers, Asaba chapter have called on the Director General of Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) to intervene and remove the state coordinator, Ms Nnenne Egbo, who they accused of extorting its members by collecting illegal monies, not authorized by the agency into her personal accounts.

The association called on the Delta state governor to come to their rescue, so as to prevent them from shutting down their businesses because they can no longer afford to bear the burden associated with the high costs of production.

Speaking on behalf of the association, Mr Mark Evans said members haven tolerated the high handed nature of Ms Nnenne can no longer afford the remain silent, but decided to embark on a peaceful walk to the government house, and register their petition, as a formal request calling on the state governor, who is considered a father to all, to intervene and come to their rescue.

Mr Evans said, “Nnenne has been harassing our members even when our regulatory body is NAFDAC, the SON coordinator would visit our factories and ask members to pay ridiculous amounts that our counterparts in other states are not asked to pay.”

“We have written to the ICPC, the ministry of trade and investment as well as the Director General of Standards Organization of Nigeria as well as the Zonal coordinator in Port Harcourt”

“ATWAP employs over ten thousand people within Asaba and Okpanam region and these people are mostly unemployable but we have been able to accommodate them and shelter them, but this woman wants to drive these people into poverty and crime”

Addressing the members of the association in front of government, Commisioner Bureau for Special Duties, Mr Etacherure Ejiro thanked members for their peaceful conduct and assured that the government will look into the issues raised, and appealed to them to remain lawful at all times.

He said the governor is interested in the welfare and wellbeing of all deltans, including small businesses, and will continue to provide the enabling environment for businesses such as ATWAP to prosper in the state.