Uche Cecil Izuora
Joy and excitement has enveloped communities in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State after electricity supply from Aba Power, Nigeria’s newest power distribution company (DisCo) based in Aba, Abia State was restored.
The communities had been without light for over a decade, according to Mrs. Bernadette Obi, who runs a big fishing business in Umuola, one of the communities now having power.
The Area was previously under Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC).
Edise Ekong, the Aba Power Senior Brand and Communication Manager, confirmed to newsmen that it was LGA chairman, Honorable Chima Njoku, who approached his utility for power supply.“We were initially sceptical since the LGA falls within the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) jurisdiction”, he explained.
“Arising from his incessant pressure, we asked him to contact the PHEDC while we contacted the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), and all relevant parties consequently reached an agreement that we supply power to the communities”.
Edise expressed delight that the communities are satisfied with not just constant power supply from Aba Power but also the quality and the tariff.
“It has been a week now that electricity has not blinked for a second in these communities in Rivers State”, he declared.
“Once there is gas supply, all our customers will continue to enjoy uninterrupted electricity unless there are local issues like trucks hitting our poles and overhead wires or vandalism of our distribution infrastructure by miscreants”.
Edise also confirmed that unnamed state governments, communities, and big manufacturing firms outside the nine of the 17 LGAs in Abia State that make up the Aba Ring-fenced Area are having discussions with Aba Power with a view to getting supplies from the utility which is Nigeria’s 12th DisCo.
“We will disclose their names at the right time”, he said.