Pecohub The Abia State Government restored electricity to 33 communities in Ukwa West Local Government Area on Monday, ending a nine-year power outage.
Speaking at a ceremony in Obehie, organised by the state government to mark the formal power switch-on, Governor Alex Otti of Abia State assured the people of a reliable power supply going forward.
Mr Otti said that the intervention fulfilled a promise he made in March to reconnect the affected communities to the electricity supply.
He expressed confidence in the project’s sustainability, commending the Chief Executive Officer of Geometric Power Limited, Bart Nnaji, for his resilience and long-term investment in the power sector.
He disclosed that Mr Nnaji had invested about $800 million in bringing his power company to where it stands today, describing it as “a necessary sacrifice for power development”.
“You know better than anyone how long this place has been in darkness and in a few moments, we will turn on the lights, and from today, you will enjoy 24-hour power supply.
“I say this with confidence because Prof Bart Nnaji is here with me and everywhere he has worked, the story is the same.
“The other day, someone told me that in the last 120 days, electricity in his house has not blinked once. I want to sincerely thank Nnaji for the excellent work he has done,” the governor said.
He further said that the government would work with the local government to support residents, who might be unable to pay their monthly electricity bill.
“I will, therefore, mandate the mayor to sit with the lawmaker, the commissioner, and other stakeholders, to work out a way to support those who genuinely cannot afford to pay.
“I am not asking you to do what I have not done. I have already done this in my own community,” Mr Otti said.
He urged residents to protect public infrastructure, adding that community vigilance was key to sustaining development projects.
