Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has revealed plans to take control of Aba Power to ensure a stable electricity supply across the state. The target is to deliver at least 22 hours of power daily.

During the monthly media chat with the Governor on Friday night, Otti emphasized that his administration is engaging with Interstate Electric, which owns 60 per cent of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC).

“We believe that at full capacity of 188 MW, Aba Power should be able to wheel excess power into Umuahia. That is the vision. The idea is to have control and possibly even offload excess power to other parts of the state, ”Otti declared.

According to him, the plan is driven by the need to reduce the high cost of production for manufacturers in Africa, many of whom spend up to 70 per cent of their costs on energy. He noted that boosting the power supply would make local industries more competitive.

“We believe that if you don’t get the power supply right, businesses will struggle. Imagine reducing energy costs for manufacturers—this will give them wings to fly and make their products more competitive,” Otti stated.

The governor also disclosed that Aba Power has continued to improve its electricity supply, with two new substations under construction, including one at Faulks Road, which was recently 95 per cent completed. “Once this is done, Aba Power will be able to guarantee at least 20 to 22 hours of stable electricity daily,” he assured.

Beyond power, Governor Otti provided updates on other sectors, including healthcare, education, and infrastructure.

He announced the completion of 267 primary healthcare centres, part of a broader effort to upgrade 948 across Africa.

“Before the end of last year, we started the project with 200 primary health care centres scattered across the 184 wards in Abia. The work is going on very well. Yesterday, the Honorable Commissioner for Health shared with me some videos and photographs of completed centres. We are now moving to the next phase, which is equipping them properly,” said Otti.

He also disclosed that the Abia State University Teaching Hospital, which lost accreditation in 2021, has now regained it, and further upgrades are ongoing to ensure long-term sustainability.

“We consider that a final solution. We just needed the university to regain its accreditation, and now we are fixing the remaining parts of the hospital.”

On education, the governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to revamping schools, revealing the plans to recruit 5,000 teachers to address a surge in student enrollment following the introduction of free and compulsory education.

“The reality is that what we met on the ground was very poor. In fact, ‘poor’ is an understatement. But in our character, we don’t believe in complaining. We just deal with the work.”

He noted that 221 schools had been identified as critically bad and in need of urgent renovation, saying, “Some schools don’t have desks, some have leaking roofs, and some are overgrown with weeds where snakes threaten students. We are prioritizing these emergency cases.”

On road infrastructure, he highlighted the reconstruction of major roads, disclosing that work is progressing on the rigid pavement technology being used for some roads to ensure durability and that the roads are being built to last at least 50 years.

“We are also beautifying and resurfacing key roads. As you enter Aba or Umuahia, you will know you are entering a new city,” he said.

To enhance security, the governor said the state has intensified intelligence gathering to prevent criminal activities, saying, “Security remains a top priority. We are making sure that Abians can sleep with their two eyes closed.”

Governor Otti also revealed that the state had received several high-profile diplomatic visits from investors, including the Consul General of Germany and representatives from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), as part of efforts to attract foreign partnerships. He assured the people of Abia that his administration remains focused on delivering quality governance.

“We are not here to complain. We are here to work and transform Abia.”