Gov. Alex Otti of Abia has approved the establishment of a 10 megawatts (MW) Independent Power Project (IPP) at the Abia State University (ABSU), Uturu to tackle electricity challenges in the campus and its environs.
Otti made this known on Thursday while receiving the lawmaker representing Isiukwuato Constituency, Lucky Johnson , who defected from Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) to Labour Party(LP), in Otamkpa, Isiukwuato Local Government Area.
The governor said that the project, would not only power the university but would also provide steady electricity supply to the host community of Uturu.
He said that the state’s recent passage of the Abia State Electricity Law paved the way for such projects without needing federal approval.
“A few weeks ago, we signed the Abia State Electricity Bill into law, so we no longer need to go to anybody for approval to set up renewable energy or IPP, whether integrated power or standalone,” Otti said.
He also disclosed that plans were underway to establish the Abia State Electricity Regulatory Agency (ASERA), pending the approval of the Abia House of Assembly.
Otti said that a native of the state who had successfully handled similar power projects in Canada had returned home to head the new agency.
“We are saying that the days of darkness are over and you know, once light comes in, darkness takes flight,” Otti said.
He said that the benefits of this project would go beyond electricity, promising improvements in other critical infrastructure such as roads.
“We do not want potholes in Abia State; we want smooth driving, and we are going to gradually get to all the roads,” he added.
In their separate speeches, the lawmaker representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency, Amobi Ogah, and the Speaker of the Abia House of Assembly, Mr Emmanuel Emeruwa, described the governor as a visionary leader.
They called on the people of Abia to rally behind him to ensure he secures a second term in office.