By CHARLES IWUOHA

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has restored electricity to 33 communities in Ukwa West LGA, thereby ending 9 years of blackout and neglect to the oil-rich communities.

The Power Restoration Project was executed by the Abia State Government through ASOPADEC under the supervision of the Abia State Ministry of Power and Public Utilities, in line with the promise made by the Governor to the people in March, 2025.

Performing the Power Switch-On ceremony at Central Primary School, Obehie, Governor 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 light to the communities and to investigate the issue of Mr Promise Onwukwe, who he said has been restored to the service as he promised.

Governor Otti called on the people of Ukwa to protect the electric facilities and ensure they are not tampered with.

“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,” Dr. Otti stated.

While reacting to the request for subsidising the high electricity bills as the light has been restored, Otti directed that a selected stakeholders should sit down and find a way out of it.

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

The member representing Ukwa West State Constituency, Hon. 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.

In his speech, the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Engr. 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 Abia’s developmental agenda.

Also speaking, the Chairman and CEO, Aba Power Limited, Prof. Bartholomew Nnaji assured residents of continuous electricity supply, adding that the area falls within the nine LGAs 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, Abia State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission

(ASOPADEC) Rev. Joshua Onyeike thanked Governor Otti for his intervention and restoration of light to Asa land and described the event as a significant one.

“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, and today, we have come to switch it on so that there will be light in our various homes, so that, there will be light on the way, so that there will be light in all the communities.

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

The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, Commissioners, including Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Philemon Ogbonna, Commissioner for information, Prince Okey Kanu, former Secretary to the State Government, Pastor Ralph Egbu, among others were present at the event.