NEWS
GOV. ALEX OTTI SPEAKS TO ABIANS: “We Went into Clean Energy and Provided Abia with Renewable Energy from Biogas” — Gov. Alex Otti Explains Aba’s Uninterrupted Power Supply Amid National Grid Collapse
Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, has provided a clear and detailed explanation on why residents of Aba, the state’s commercial nerve centre, continued to enjoy steady electricity supply despite the nationwide collapse of the national grid on Tuesday, January 27.
Governor Otti made this disclosure on Thursday at the Government House, Umuahia, during the January 2026 edition of “Governor Alex Otti Speaks to Abians,” a monthly media interaction with journalists in the state.
Speaking in a video message, the Governor disclosed that Abia State has deliberately begun gravitating towards clean and renewable energy solutions, particularly through the deployment of biogas technology, as part of a broader strategy to guarantee stable, sustainable, and independent power supply for residents.
According to Governor Otti, the state is increasingly relying on modern technology that converts waste materials into clean energy, which is then used for electricity generation and distribution. He explained that this innovative approach not only tackles power challenges but also addresses waste management concerns, thereby delivering dual benefits to the state.
He further revealed that the biogas initiative currently running in Aba is a pilot programme, designed to test, refine, and demonstrate the effectiveness of the technology before it is expanded to other parts of the state, especially Umuahia, the Abia State capital.
“So, we went into clean energy and provided Abia with renewable energy from biogas and this is a pilot programme.
“So we want instead of the organic waste that we are disposing of, we can turn them with this technology into energy; clean energy and we will be able to power a lot more places particularly in the Umuahia Ring Fence,” Governor Otti said.
The Governor explained that beyond renewable energy initiatives, his administration is also implementing structural reforms in the power sector to place Abia on the path of energy sufficiency and long-term independence.
He disclosed that Abia State has already made a formal offer to the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), which has been accepted, and that the state government is currently in the process of raising funds to fully acquire the Umuahia Ring Fence.
“Talking about the Umuahia Ring Fence, we had reported earlier that our offer to the EEDC has been accepted and we are in the process of raising the funds to pay off EEDC.
“On the 24 of December, the Abia State Electricity Authority took over from the National Electricity Authority, the regulation.
“So everything about distribution, generation and transmission is going to be regulated within the state and the whole idea is to ensure energy sufficiency and independence within the state.
“Just like the Aba Power provides power for the Aba Ring Fence, I am sure you would have been aware that some of the disasters that happened recently, our state was not affected because a whole part of our power asset is within our authority and that is the whole idea about acquiring the Umuahia Ring Fence.
“I am happy that we are making a lot of progress in that area,” Governor Otti added.
The Governor’s explanation underscores his administration’s commitment to building a resilient and self-reliant power sector that is insulated from national grid failures, while positioning Abia State as a forward-looking hub for clean energy adoption and technological innovation.