Amid ongoing instability in Nigeria’s National Grid, Abia State is taking bold steps to achieve total energy self-sufficiency, Governor Alex Otti has announced.
Speaking to journalists at the State Government House on Thursday, Otti highlighted a multifaceted strategy that combines localised power regulation with renewable energy innovation.
A central feature of this plan is a pilot biogas programme at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, designed to convert organic waste into clean, renewable energy.
“We’re launching a pilot biogas programme at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. The whole idea is to turn waste into clean energy and provide Abia with renewable energy from biogas,” Otti said. “Instead of disposing of organic waste, we can now use it to generate power, particularly for the Umuahia ring-fence.”
Further strengthening the state’s energy autonomy, Otti confirmed that the Abia State Electricity Regulation Authority (ASERA) officially assumed regulatory control from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on December 24.
The governor also revealed that the state’s acquisition of assets from Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) has been negotiated and accepted, with funds currently being raised to complete the purchase.
“The whole idea is to ensure energy sufficiency and independence in the state, similar to how the Aba Power system provides electricity for the Aba ring-fence,” Otti explained.
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Recent nationwide blackouts, caused by repeated failures of the national grid, have underscored the importance of localized power solutions.
According to the governor, Abia’s strategic investments have already insulated the state from some of these crises.
“Some of the recent national grid collapses did not affect our state because a significant portion of our power assets is under our direct authority. Acquiring the Umuahia ring-fence is key to this progress,” Otti noted.
With the combination of renewable energy projects and direct regulatory oversight, Abia State appears to be charting a path toward energy independence, even as the rest of the country grapples with persistent power challenges.