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Abia to join the electricity market, forwards Electricity Bill to State Assembly 

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Abia to join the electricity market, forwards Electricity Bill to State Assembly 

The Abia State Government (ABSG) has  forwarded to the State House of Assembly,  the State Electricity Bill for consideration,  as part of efforts to launch the state into the competitive electricity  market.

This is also as the state has awarded contract for the reconstruction of the abandoned ancient, narrow- one-lane  bridge, called Omenuko bridge.

The bridge is located at a valley between Ndi-Ojiugwuo  and Ozuabam villages in Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia state. It has been, for centuries, a nightmare and  safety risk to both commuters and motorists passing into the hinterlands of Abam, Ohafia, Arochukwu and other communities there.

The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu disclosed this, Monday, while briefing the press in Government House,  Umuahia on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting presided over by governor Alex Otti.

According to the Commissioner,  the State House of Assembly will conduct  public hearing on this executive bill on Wednesday, December 18, 2024 and has invited many stakeholders in the electricity sector  to the forum.

Prince Kanu, highlighted the importance of the  Electricity  Bill, stressing that it willensure that electricity light reaches every nooks and crannies of the state.

He said that as a result of the importance of this bill to the state, all critical stakeholders in the sector  have been invited to be public hearing to make inputs on the process of  legislation  so as to come –up with a robust idea that will address issues of electricity in the state

He, however,  explained that the on-going “Light Up Abia Initiative” , which had focused on major cities of Aba, Umuahia and Ohafia, will  now be taken  into other areas including, Bende, Ugwunagbo and Osisioma LGAs, respectively. According to him, so far, the Light Up Abia Initiative has have reached 28 areas.

As  another major  breakthrough of  the present administration in the state,  the  Commissioner announced that governor Alex Otti has approved the reconstruction of the long abandoned ancient , narrow Omenuko bridge at Ozuabam in Arochukwu LGA, a bridge that links Abia North and Abia Central senatorial zones.

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“For decades, a lot of politicians have taken undue advantage of this  reckety nature of that bridge to make promises to people around that area. Till  date, no former politician (at federal and State) or government ever fulfilled such fake promises to the electorate.

“His Excellency, Dr Alex Otti, at this week’s EXCO, ordered that, that bridge be reconstructed to serve the people from that area, “.without minding that the Umuahia- Bende –Ohafia road is a federal road, but is located in Abia and used by Abians.

The Commissioner who said that the flag off of the project would be announced soon maintained that repairing the bridge would be of great benefit for the people.

He, however, touched on the ground breaking ceremony of the Abia airport project on Tuesday, 17, December at Ubaha Nsulu in Isialangwa North, its  eeconomic benefits  to Abia residents, including investments, tourism among others, saying that issues of protest and agitation by few members of the host communities have been taken care of.

The Commissioner appreciated the recent  Primary  Health care 400 Dollar UNICEF prize won by Abia State and attributed the credit to governor Otti for his efforts in the health –sector. Kanu further revealed that the “Project Ekwueme”,  being the reconstruction of 200 primary health care centres across the Wards in Abia in 100 days, is ongoing. He also announced that  the Ministry of Health would soon embark on free surgery for persons with hydrocele.

On security, the Commissioner reiterated the commitment of the state government to providing security to citizens of the state and their properties, especially this Yuletide, and said that there is need for the people to always give useful information to the security agencies, seen on the strets.

Throwing more light   on the  merits of the Abia State Electricity Bill, the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Mr. Ikechukwu Monday said that the law would act as a catalyst to achieve that goal of the  governor, which is, to provide access to electricity to both the unserved and the underserved Abians.

“It’s a law that will be tailored to creating the Abia State electricity market. As we know, last year the Electricity Act 2023 was passed into law which gives states and sub nationals the framework and mandate to create their own electricity market.

“We are looking at the full value chain, from generation to transmission to distribution. So, for Abia state, we are creating a market , an electricity market that will be competitive and efficient.

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“This will help to promote industrialization. As we know our people are gifted in crafts and fabrications;  and without electricity there is nowhere we can achieve that social economic growth of the state and that’s  why we took this time to draft this bill,” Monday stated.

Mr. Monday further explained that if the Electricity bill is  passed into law, three organizations would be created from the executive bill, namely Power production, Distribution and Regulatory bodies.

He explained that the regulatory authority would regulate all the sectors in the market, the rural electrification agency would take care of mostly the underserved while the electricity fund would be supporting to ensure that adequate infrastructure is provided and goverment can intervene in cases where people cannot afford to pay the tariff.