Abia: Otti restores power to 33 communities after nine-year blackout

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

The restoration followed the completion of the Power Restoration Project executed 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, in fulfillment of a promise made by the governor in March 2025.

Speaking during the power switch-on ceremony held on Monday at Central Primary School, Obehie, Otti recalled his commitment to return electricity to the communities and to investigate the case of Mr Promise Onwukwe, whom he said had now been reinstated, as promised. 

The governor arrived at the venue aboard the newly launched Abia Green Shuttle EV bus, accompanied by members of his cabinet.

Otti urged residents of Ukwa West to safeguard the electricity infrastructure in their communities and prevent vandalism.

He said, “I believe that we have a responsibility to protect what is in our community.

“Nobody can do it better than you. And those thieves do not come from heaven. They are all part and parcel of the community.”

Addressing concerns over high electricity tariffs after the restoration, the governor directed relevant stakeholders to engage and work out possible interventions for affected residents.

“That is how society works. So, I will give a job to the Mayor to sit down with the Honourable Member, the Commissioner and all the capable people so that we can work out a way to support those who cannot pay,” he added.

In his remarks, the lawmaker representing Ukwa West State Constituency, Hon. Godwin Adiele, commended the performance of the Otti administration within a short period and assured that the governor would receive strong electoral support from the area in 2027.

He also expressed optimism that development projects in Ukwa West would be sustained.

The Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Engr. Ikechukwu Monday said the project involved the rehabilitation of 30 transformer distribution substations, installation of 12 new transformers, restoration of 34 kilometres of high-tension lines and 3.5 kilometres of low-tension lines.

He added that metering of the benefiting communities was ongoing to ensure effective billing, stressing that electricity remained central to Abia State’s development agenda.

Also speaking, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Aba Power Limited, Prof. Bartholomew Nnaji, assured residents of uninterrupted electricity supply, noting that Ukwa West is among the nine local government areas served by Aba Power Limited.

He confirmed the deployment of 33 transformers and several distribution lines to the area, explaining that electricity would be generated outside the national grid, while calling on residents to desist from vandalism and energy theft.

Earlier, the General Manager of ASOPADEC, Rev. Joshua Onyeike, described the restoration of power to Asa land as a landmark achievement and thanked Governor Otti for his intervention.

“It is with joy and happiness that we have come to do this important assignment this evening, and that is to ensure that the light which His Excellency promised us on the 11th of March, 2025, has been dutifully restored and rekindled. Today, we have come to switch it on so that there will be light in our various homes, on the roads, and in all the communities.

“This is significant because the switching on of this light today will inaugurate many great things that are still to come,” Rev. Onyeike stated.

ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE