Abia Restores Power to 33 Ukwa West Communities After Nine Years
No fewer than 33 communities in the oil-producing axis of Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State have been reconnected to electricity after spending nine years without power.
The project was executed by the Abia State Government through the Abia State Oil Producing Areas Development Corporation (ASOPADEC).
Performing the power switch-on ceremony at Central Primary School, Obehie, Governor Alex Otti described electricity as critical to individual wellbeing and community development, stressing that access to power remains a key driver of economic and social growth.
The governor, who arrived at the event in the newly commissioned Abia Green Shuttle electric bus alongside members of his cabinet, urged residents to safeguard the power facilities against vandalism and theft.
“I believe we have a responsibility to protect what belongs to our community. Those who vandalise these facilities are not outsiders; they come from within,” Otti said.
Responding to concerns over high electricity tariffs following the restoration of power, the governor directed relevant stakeholders to engage with community leaders to explore possible ways of supporting residents who may struggle to pay their bills.
“That is how society works. The mayor, the lawmaker, the commissioner and other stakeholders should sit down and work out a way to assist those who cannot afford the charges,” he added.
Speaking at the event, the lawmaker representing Ukwa West State Constituency, Hon. Godwin Adiele, praised the Otti administration for its achievements within a short period, expressing confidence that the governor’s performance would earn him strong electoral support from the area in 2027.
The Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Engr. Ikechukwu Monday, said the restored power 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 beneficiary communities were currently being metered to ensure effective billing, describing electricity as a cornerstone of Abia State’s development agenda.
Also speaking, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Aba Power Limited, Prof. Bartholomew Nnaji, assured residents of sustained electricity supply, noting that Ukwa West falls within the nine local government areas serviced by the company.
Nnaji disclosed that 33 transformers and several distribution lines had been deployed to the area, explaining that power would be generated outside the national grid. He appealed to residents to desist from vandalism and energy theft.
Earlier, the General Manager of ASOPADEC, Rev. Joshua Onyeike, thanked Governor Otti for his intervention, describing the restoration of power to Asa land as a historic milestone.
He said the reconnection fulfilled the governor’s promise made on March 11, 2025, adding that the project would bring light to homes, roads and communities across the area.
