Abia Lights Up Communities, Begins Distribution Of 53 Transformers


By Okwudiri Okafor, Umuahia

Abia State Government has kicked off the distribution of 53 transformers it procured for various communities across the South-Eastern state.

The move is part of its policy of ensuring rapid socio-economic transformation of communities and boost industrialization so as generate greater wealth among the citizenry.

Already, Aba, the commercial hub of the South-East, has for long now enjoyed regular power supply,provided by a private firm and facilitated by the state government’s provision of a conducive investment environment, even as attention shifts to electrifying the rural areas.

Speaking while distributing the first phase of the transformers to 11 benefiting communities, State Governor, Alex Otti, said the action is part of his social contract with the people of the state which seeks to promote and provide reliable electricity supply to communities.

The governor, represented by the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Mr. Ikechukwu Monday, recalled that government had announced in December, 2024 that it procured 53 transformers, disclosing that all 53 would be distributed to benefitting communities this week.

“This is the first batch of transformers that will be procured and supplied to communities in the state.

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“So today we will be handing over to 11 communities and the entire week we will distribute the remaining transformers to the benefitting communities.

“This is to boost electricity supply to our communities in the state. This is part of that gesture that would help us achieve that goal,” Gov. Otti noted.

The Governor disclosed that the beneficiaries were selected on “first come, first served basis.”

Lauding the people of the state, Gov. Otti described them as industrious people who are blessed with ingenuity, adding “we cannot promote industrialisation without reliable electricity.”

He urged all the communities, especially community heads, to take responsibility and ensure the transformers were protected against any form of threats or vandalism.

“This is that tax payers’ money that is put to work, so you should endeavour to ensure that you will handle it with care; protect it and provide enough security,” the governor advised.

Responding on behalf of the benefitting communities, Eze Innocent Ezeala of Ibe Uzo Amawom-Oboro community in Ikwuano Local Government Area (LGA), thanked Gov. Otti for extending such gesture to them.

He described it as a welcome development and demonstration of the administration’s commitment to transformation of the state.

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“This gesture points to the fact that government is setting up systems that will make Abia a state that works in every sector.

“The funny thing is that I came here and put up an application for a transformer for my community without seeing the Commissioner.

“I was called on phone to come for the transformer without having to grease anyone’s palms with anything in order to get it,” Eze Ezeala stated.

The 11 communities that benefitted in the first phase include Umuogo (Umuahia South LGA); Amaegbuato-Nkpa (Bende LGA); Okpuala/Umuelenwa (Isiala Ngwa North LGA); Agbama Olokoro (Umuahia South LGA ); Ibe Uzo Amawom (Ikwuano LGA); and Umuoruku (Obingwa LGA).

Others are Atani Abam (Arochukwu LGA); Ndi Oti Alicho-Acho (Arochukwu LGA); Abayi Ohanze (Obingwa LGA); Nwokoma Environs-Umuagbaghi (Aba South LGA) and Umuokelenta Amaoba Oboro (Ikwuano LGA).


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