Abia Governor Restores Electricity to 33 Communities After Nine Years

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has restored electricity supply to 33 communities in Ukwa West Local Government Area, bringing an end to nearly nine years of darkness in the oil-producing axis of the state.

The power restoration was carried out by the Abia State Government through the Abia State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (ASOPADEC), under the supervision of the Ministry of Power and Public Utilities. The project fulfilled a commitment made by the governor to the affected communities in March 2025.

Speaking at the power switch-on ceremony held on Monday at Central Primary School, Obehie, Governor Otti recalled his earlier pledge to restore electricity to the area. He also confirmed that Mr Promise Onwukwe, whose case he had promised to look into, had been reinstated.

The governor urged residents to safeguard the electricity infrastructure, stressing that community ownership was key to preventing vandalism. “We have a duty to protect what belongs to our communities. Those who damage these facilities are not strangers; they come from within,” he said.

Responding to concerns about high electricity bills, Otti directed relevant stakeholders to engage and explore ways of supporting residents who may struggle with payments. He tasked the mayor, lawmakers and commissioners to work out possible relief measures.

The lawmaker representing Ukwa West State Constituency, Hon. Godwin Adiele, praised the governor’s performance, describing the intervention as impactful and assuring that the area would support him in future elections.

Providing technical details, the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Engr. Ikechukwu Monday, said the project involved the rehabilitation of 30 transformer substations, the installation of 12 new transformers, the restoration of 34 kilometres of high-tension lines and 3.5 kilometres of low-tension lines. He added that metering of benefiting communities was ongoing to ensure efficient billing.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Aba Power Limited, Prof. Bartholomew Nnaji, assured residents of reliable power supply, noting that Ukwa West falls within the nine local government areas served by Aba Power. He disclosed that 33 transformers and multiple distribution lines had been provided, with power generation coming from outside the national grid. He also appealed against vandalism and energy theft.

Earlier, ASOPADEC General Manager, Rev. Joshua Onyeike, described the restoration of electricity to Asa land as a milestone, expressing gratitude to Governor Otti for fulfilling his promise. He said the return of power would usher in new opportunities for development across the communities.

Several top government officials attended the event, including the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba; Commissioners for Environment and Information, Mr Philemon Ogbonna and Prince Okey Kanu; and former Secretary to the State Government, Pastor Ralph Egbu, among others.