Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has reconnected 33 communities in Ukwa West Local Government Area to the national grid after nearly a decade without electricity.
The restoration followed a power switch-on ceremony held on Monday at Obehie, marking the completion of a major electrification project executed by the Abia State Government through the Abia State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ASOPADEC).
Speaking at the event, Otti said the project reflected his administration’s resolve to reverse years of neglect in the oil-producing communities and improve their living conditions.
The governor urged residents to take ownership of the facilities and guard them against vandalism and theft.
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“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,” Gov. Otti stated.
Addressing concerns raised by community members over the possibility of high electricity bills following the restoration, Otti directed that a meeting of selected stakeholders be convened to explore ways of easing the burden on residents.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Ikechukwu Monday, said the project involved extensive rehabilitation and expansion works across the area.
According to him, the intervention covered the refurbishment 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.
Monday added that the beneficiary communities were already being metered to ensure effective billing, stressing that reliable electricity supply remains a central pillar of the state government’s development drive.
