COMMENTARY
GOV. ALEX OTTI SPEAKS TO ABIANS: Gov. Otti Restores Power to 33 Ukwa West Communities, Activates Abia Electricity Regulatory Authority, Moves to End EEDC Monopoly Outside Aba
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, has announced sweeping reforms in the state’s power sector, marked by the restoration of electricity to 33 communities in Ukwa West Local Government Area and the full operationalisation of the Abia State Electricity Regulatory Authority.
The Governor disclosed this on Tuesday during the December edition of the Monthly Media Parley, Governor Otti Speaks, while responding to questions from journalists on the state of critical infrastructure and ongoing sectoral reforms.
Governor Otti explained that the signing of the Abia State Electricity Law has provided the legal and institutional framework for the state to take full control of its electricity market, paving the way for improved regulation, accountability, and service delivery.
According to him, the newly operational Electricity Regulatory Authority will oversee licensing, pricing, standards, and consumer protection within the state’s power sector.
He further noted that the restoration of electricity to 33 communities in Ukwa West is part of a deliberate effort to correct years of neglect, stimulate local economic activities, and improve the quality of life for residents who had endured prolonged darkness.
The Governor also clarified the state’s strategic position following the ceding of Aba as a ring-fenced electricity distribution area to Aba Power and Geometric Power. He stated that with Aba now under a dedicated power arrangement, the Abia State Government is preparing to assume responsibility for electricity distribution in the remaining Local Government Areas currently served by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company.
Governor Otti emphasized that the move is aimed at ensuring reliable power supply across the state, ending inefficiencies associated with centralized distribution, and unlocking industrial and commercial growth beyond Aba. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to using power sector reforms as a catalyst for economic revival, job creation, and sustainable development in Abia State.
The latest disclosures reinforce the administration’s broader agenda of institutional reforms and infrastructure renewal, positioning Abia as one of the emerging sub-national leaders in power sector decentralization and energ
y governance.