From Dan Maduagwu, Umuahia
Residents of Umuahia have been going through painful conditions following the ongoing strike by association of sachet water producers, since Thursday.
The strike action, according to a member of the association, Hon. Henry Elekwa Uzondu, was being used by the producers to protest against the bad conditions they found themselves, occasioned by the bad economy of the country.
Uzondu listed the high cost of production materials, poor power supply from Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, high cost of petroleum products to run their machines as some of their reasons for the strike.
He further revealed that water producers would continue the strike until deliberations were concluded on their challenges as according to him, the water sub-sector is a major employer of labour, employing over 5,000 persons directly or indirectly in various water factories in Umuahia.
The water dealer however hinted that there may be a ‘little increase’ in price of a bag when the strike ends, to enable them remain in business.
The strike caused drinking water crises around the capital as most shops were without the commodity, even as those who had old stock sold a sachet at 20 naira against the old rate of N10 while a bag went for N250 against the old rate of N150.
Also, several eating points either served their customers with bottled water or water fetched from borehole .
