UMUAHIA – Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has inaugurated a five-member board of the Abia State Electricity Regulatory Agency (ASERA), with a mandate to finalize negotiations with the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) and take control of the Umuahia ringed-fence area.
Speaking at the inauguration held at the Government House in Umuahia, Governor Otti declared his administration’s intention to withdraw Umuahia from the national grid, describing it as a strategic move to tackle the city’s persistent power problems.
“We are at the final stages of negotiations with EEDC. The idea is to acquire the Umuahia ringed-fence area, which includes Umuahia North, Umuahia South, Ikwuano, Bende, Ohafia, Isuikwuato, Umunneochi, and Arochukwu,” Otti said.
He added that once the negotiations are complete and payment is made, Umuahia will exit EEDC’s distribution and instead draw power from the Aba-based Geometric Power Plant. The governor revealed that Geometric has an installed capacity of 188 megawatts, of which 88 megawatts could be redirected to Umuahia to ensure stable power supply.
Highlighting the importance of electricity to his administration’s industrialization agenda, Otti said, “Electricity is central to our development. Industrialization cannot happen without reliable power.”
The new ASERA board members are:
- Mr. Onyegbule Emeka – Chairman/CEO
- Mr. Ikowu Ukwu – Executive Director
- Engr. Iheanyi Eze – Executive Director
- Onwuegbule Kareem Eberechukwu – Non-Executive Director
- Dr. Joy Oti – Non-Executive Director
Otti emphasized that the board members were appointed based on merit and will work closely with the experienced Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Mr. Ikechukwu Monday.
Responding on behalf of the board, Engr. Iheanyi Eze thanked the governor for the trust placed in them and pledged to deliver on the administration’s vision of providing affordable and quality electricity. He also promised to build a strong customer service framework within the agency.
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