In a landmark event on Monday, the 22nd of December, 2025, Governor Alex Otti officially restored electricity to 33 communities across the Ukwa West Local Government Area. The “Switch-On” ceremony, held at Obehie, marks the end of a nearly decade-long blackout for the oil-producing region.
The restoration was made possible through an intensive infrastructure project funded by the state government and executed by the Abia State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ASOPADEC).
During the ceremony, Governor Otti emphasized that the project was a direct response to the long-standing marginalization of the area. He noted that the initiative aligns with his administration’s goal to rectify the “ugly condition” of these resource-rich communities that had previously endured years of abandonment.
The Governor urged local residents to take ownership of the new infrastructure, warning that the sustainability of the power supply depends on the security of the equipment.
“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.
Regarding concerns over the affordability of power, particularly requests for subsidies on high bills, the Governor has “directed that selected stakeholders should sit down and find a way out of it.”
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The Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Ikechukwu Monday, detailed the extensive engineering work required to bring the grid back to life.
According to the Commissioner, the project included, Rehabilitation of 30 transformer distribution substations. Installation of 12 brand-new transformers, and Restoration of 34 kilometers of high-tension lines and 3.5 kilometers of low-tension lines.
Commissioner Monday further noted that to ensure fair and effective billing, “the benefitting communities are currently being metered,” reinforcing the administration’s stance that reliable electricity is a cornerstone of Abia’s broader developmental roadmap.