Abia Govt Flips the Switch, Restores Power to 33 Ukwa West Villages

The Abia State Government, working through the Abia State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ASOPADEC) and the Ministry of Power and Public Utilities, has completed the Ukwa West Power Restoration Project, returning electricity to 33 communities in the local government area. The effort follows months of repairs to vandalised transformers, high‑tension lines and feeder pillars that had left the oil‑producing region in darkness for years.

Governor Dr. Alex Chioma Otti is slated to perform the official switch‑on at Central Primary School, Obehie, on Monday, December 22, 2025, at noon. The ceremony marks the culmination of a directive the governor gave during the March 11, 2025 flag‑off of the 11.1‑kilometre Obehie–Umudobia–Owaza road reconstruction, underscoring his administration’s focus on reviving critical infrastructure in oil‑producing areas.

ASOPADEC and the Ministry of Power mobilised crews to rehabilitate 33 distribution transformer substations, repair 34 kilometres of high‑tension overhead lines and restore three kilometres of low‑tension lines in the Obehie axis. The work also involved replacing stolen or damaged components such as armoured cables, earthing copper, D‑fuses and lightning arresters, ensuring a more resilient grid for the communities.

The restored power supply is expected to boost economic activity, improve healthcare and education services, and raise living standards across the benefiting villages. Abia Power Limited Electricity (APLE) will install meters to facilitate transparent billing, reinforcing the state’s commitment to sustainable and inclusive development in its oil‑producing regions.