Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, performed the switch-on ceremony to restore electricity to 33 communities in Ukwa West Local Government Area, ending a nine-year power outage.
The project was executed by the Abia State Government through the Abia State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ASOPADEC).
Speaking at the power switch-on ceremony in Obehie on Monday, Governor Otti said the project aligned with his administration’s commitment to improving the living conditions of oil-producing communities that had suffered years of neglect.
He urged residents of Ukwa to safeguard the electrical infrastructure and ensure it is not vandalised or stolen.
“I believe we all have a responsibility to protect what is in our community. Nobody can do it better than you. Those thieves do not come from heaven; they are part and parcel of the community,” the governor said.
Responding to calls for the subsidisation of electricity bills following the restoration of power, Governor Otti directed that selected stakeholders should meet to explore possible solutions.
In his remarks, the Abia State Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Ikechukwu Monday, said the project involved the rehabilitation of 30 transformer distribution substations, the installation of 12 new transformers, and the restoration of 34 kilometres of high-tension lines as well as 3.5 kilometres of low-tension lines.
He added that the benefiting communities are currently being metered to ensure effective billing, stressing that electricity remains a critical component of Abia State’s development agenda.