Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to expanding renewable energy across the state, promising to work closely with the Federal Government to improve electricity access for residents.
The governor made the pledge on Thursday while receiving a delegation from the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and other federal agencies at the Government House in Umuahia.
Otti said his administration was determined to fast-track renewable energy projects by addressing pending operational issues and activating existing agreements with the Federal Government aimed at improving power supply in the state.
He assured the visiting delegation that tangible progress would be recorded within the next two weeks.
“Just watch us and see what will happen in the next 14 days. You can be sure that you will hear from us within the next 14 days, and the lowest-hanging fruit is this initiative covering ten states,” the governor said.
The governor did not provide specific details of the projects expected to commence but stressed that his administration was committed to ensuring that the partnership delivers measurable benefits to the people of Abia.
FG Expands Rural Electrification
Speaking during the visit, the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Aliyu, disclosed that the Federal Government has completed the mapping of communities across Nigeria to identify areas lacking access to electricity.
According to him, the initiative is part of a broader national strategy to close the country’s electricity access gap, particularly in underserved rural communities.
Aliyu revealed that the Federal Government is currently deploying 1,000 mini-grids across different states as part of efforts to provide reliable and sustainable electricity to communities that are not adequately connected to the national grid.
He noted that renewable energy solutions, especially solar-powered mini-grids, remain a key component of the government’s plan to improve electricity supply and stimulate economic development in rural areas.
Move Comes Amid Power Challenges
Governor Otti’s renewed commitment to renewable energy comes at a time when parts of Abia State have been experiencing prolonged power outages.
Recently, the Abia State House of Assembly expressed concern over the blackout affecting several communities, attributing the situation to a gas supply shortage impacting the operations of Aba Power Limited.
The lawmakers urged relevant stakeholders to find a lasting solution to the electricity crisis, warning that the outages were negatively affecting businesses and the livelihoods of residents.
The latest collaboration between the Abia State Government and the Rural Electrification Agency is expected to complement ongoing efforts to diversify electricity sources, reduce dependence on the national grid, and improve energy access for households, businesses and public institutions across the state.
