DEVELOPMENT
Abia State Govt Restores Electricity to 33 Ukwa West Communities as Otti Flags Off Power Switch-On
The Abia State Government, through the Abia State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ASOPADEC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Power and Public Utilities, has successfully restored electricity supply to 33 communities in Ukwa West Local Government Area.
The restoration follows the completion of the Ukwa West Power Restoration Project, a major intervention aimed at reviving long-abandoned and vandalised power infrastructure across the oil-producing local government area.
The official power switch-on ceremony is scheduled for Monday, December 22, 2025, at 12 noon at Central Primary School, Obehie, and will be performed by the Executive Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR.
The project was executed by ASOPADEC under the supervision of the Ministry of Power and Public Utilities, in line with a directive issued by Governor Otti during the flag-off of the reconstruction of the 11.1-kilometre Obehie–Umudobia–Owaza Road on March 11, 2025.
Following the governor’s directive, the Ministry of Power and Public Utilities conducted a comprehensive assessment of electricity infrastructure across Ukwa West to determine their operational status. The assessment covered 33 distribution transformer substations, many of which had suffered extensive vandalism. Critical components found damaged or stolen included transformers, armoured cables linking transformers to feeder pillars, up-riser and down-drop cables, earthing copper cables, feeder pillars, D-fuses, lightning arresters and other essential accessories.
Determined to restore power to the affected communities, the Ministry, in collaboration with ASOPADEC, immediately mobilised to site and carried out extensive rehabilitation works across the local government area. The scope of the project included the rehabilitation and reconstruction of distribution substations, high-tension and low-tension power lines, as well as other associated infrastructure. Arrangements have also been concluded for Abia Power Limited Electricity (APLE) to provide meters to ensure effective and transparent billing.
Key achievements recorded under the Ukwa West Power Restoration Project include the rehabilitation and construction of 33 distribution transformer substations, the rehabilitation of 12 vandalised sections of high-tension overhead lines covering a total distance of 34 kilometres, and the rehabilitation of low-tension overhead lines at the Obehie axis, covering three kilometres of high-tension lines across 11 communities.
The rehabilitated high-tension line sections include Umudobia to Obehie (3km), Umuelechi to Obibor (5km), Umukalu to Umuorie (5km), Obahu Asa to Umudiuru Village (3km), Okohia (5km), Imo River (5km), 144 Battalion Asa to Umuojuohia (1.5km), Umuojuohia to Umuelechi (3km), Umuahalla (3km), Umuiku Ozaa (0.3km), Ezendioma (five spans), and the Owaza–Umuaka network (600 metres).
Communities benefiting from the rehabilitated low-tension lines at the Obehie axis include Umuiku Ozaa, Umuahala, Okohia, Umuaka, Umuelechi, Imo River I, Mkpuwe, Umuokwor, Umuajuohia, Umudiuru and Umudeme.
The 33 distribution transformer substations ready for commissioning are located at Umuelechi/Umuakpaka, Umuelechi/Umuokocha, Umuelechi/Umuogar, Obehie Egbelu, Umuokwor, Umuada, Oborhia, Umuadieme, Umuajuohia, Umuahala I, Umuahala II, Obiga, Omumuozo, Ezendioma, Imo River I, One Man Country, Okahia, Umuiku Ozza, Umukalu, Obehie Junction by Umudobia Road, Central Primary School Obehie, Umuokpara, Umuituru Village, Mkpuukwe Asa, Umuaka, Imo River II, Uzuaku I, Uzuaku II, Umunteke II, Umunteke Anglican Church, Obehie, Obibor and Umudobia.
The Ukwa West Power Restoration Project highlights the Alex Otti administration’s commitment to infrastructure renewal, inclusive development and the improvement of living standards in oil-producing and host communitie
s across Abia State.