The Aba Power outage has drawn the attention of the Abia State House of Assembly, with lawmakers demanding explanations from Aba Power Limited over the prolonged blackout affecting parts of the state.
The outage, which Aba Power Limited attributed to disruptions in gas supply, has affected households, businesses, and manufacturers in Aba and several local government areas served by the company.
Concerned by the situation, the Chairman of the House Committee on Power and Public Utilities, Aaron Uzodike, alongside committee member Stephen Ucheonye, visited the headquarters of Aba Power Limited to obtain firsthand information on the cause of the blackout.
The lawmakers expressed concern over the impact of the Aba Power outage on residents, artisans, and business owners, noting that the visit was aimed at understanding the factors responsible for the ongoing electricity disruption.
During the meeting, the Chairman of Aba Power Limited, Professor Barth Nnaji, and members of the company’s management explained that the outage resulted from the inability of its gas supplier to deliver gas after critical equipment, including a switchgear and starter motor, was damaged.
Nnaji appealed to customers for patience and understanding, describing the situation as unfortunate.
He assured residents that electricity supply would be restored once gas supply to the power plant resumes.
Responding, Uzodike said the House Committee would continue to monitor developments to ensure electricity is restored as quickly as possible.
He stressed that reliable electricity remains essential for economic growth, warning that industries, businesses, and artisans cannot operate efficiently under persistent power shortages.
The Aba Power outage has continued to disrupt commercial and domestic activities in Aba, with residents hoping for a swift resolution to the gas supply challenge.
BACKSTORY:
Aba Power Limited is the electricity distribution company responsible for supplying power to Aba and surrounding communities under the Aba Ring-fenced Electricity Distribution Network. The company operates independently of the broader national distribution system and relies on gas-fired generation to provide electricity to its customers.
In recent years, Aba Power has been praised for improving electricity supply in parts of Aba compared to many other parts of Nigeria. However, the network has also experienced periodic disruptions, often linked to gas supply shortages or technical faults affecting power generation.
The latest blackout follows a disruption in gas supply caused by damage to critical equipment belonging to the company’s gas supplier. The prolonged outage has affected households, manufacturers, traders, and small businesses, prompting concerns about its economic impact.
The intervention by the Abia State House of Assembly reflects growing pressure on Aba Power Limited to restore electricity quickly, as reliable power remains crucial to Aba’s reputation as one of Nigeria’s leading commercial and industrial hubs.
