Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has restored electricity to 33 communities in Ukwa West Local Government Area, ending nine years of blackout and neglect of the oil-rich communities.
The project was executed by the state government through Abia State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ASOPADEC), and supervised by the Ministry of Power and Public Utilities.
Performing the power switch-on ceremony at the Primary School, Obehie, Gov. Otti, who rode to the event in the newly launched Abia Green Shuttle EV bus, alongside members of his cabinet, recalled that he promised to restore power to the communities.
This was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ukoha Ukoha, and made available to journalists in Umuahia.
Gov. Otti tasked the Ukwa people to protect power infrastructure in their communities and ensure they are not vandalised.
“I believe that we have a responsibility to protect what is in our community.
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“Nobody can do it better than you. And those thieves do not come from heaven. They are all part and parcel of the community,” Gov. Otti stated.
While reacting to the request to subsidise the electricity bills, Gov. Otti directed that stakeholders should fashion out ways to tackle the issue.
“That is how society works. So, I will give a job to the mayor to sit down with the member, the commissioner, and all the capable people, so that we can work out a way to support those who cannot pay,” he said.
The member representing Ukwa West State Constituency, Godwin Adiele, noted that the Otti-led administration has done well within a short period and assured that the governor would be rewarded with votes from Ukwa West in 2027.
He expressed confidence that the achievements of the governor in the area would continue.
Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Ikechukwu Monday, said that the power project restored included rehabilitation of 30 transformer distribution substations, installation of 12 new transformers, restoration of 34 kilometers of high-tension lines, and 3.5 kilometers of low-tension lines.
He said that the benefitting communities are currently being metered for effective billing and emphasised the importance of electricity as a key component of the state’s developmental agenda.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Aba Power Limited, Prof. Bartholomew Nnaji, assured residents of a steady power supply, adding that the area falls within the nine local government areas supported by Aba Power Limited.
He confirmed that the area had received 33 transformers and several distribution lines and explained that power in the area would be generated outside the national grid, while appealing to residents to stop vandalism and energy theft.
Earlier, the General Manager of the Abia State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission
(ASOPADEC), Rev. Joshua Onyeike thanked Gov. Otti for his intervention and for the restoration of power to Asa land.
