The Abia State Government has commenced the first phase of the distribution of 50 electricity transformers to communities across the 17 Local Government Areas of the state as part of efforts to improve electricity supply and strengthen power infrastructure, particularly in rural areas.
The initiative, according to the state government, is aimed at addressing prolonged power outages caused by faulty, inadequate or unavailable transformers and ensuring that more communities are reconnected to the national electricity grid.
Speaking during the distribution exercise at the headquarters of the Ministry of Power and Public Utilities on Friday, the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Engr. Ikechukwu Monday, said the intervention was being implemented in line with the directive of Governor Alex Otti to consolidate the state’s electricity infrastructure and improve power supply.
The Commissioner explained that the transformers would be installed in different communities to reinforce existing electricity networks and enhance the quality, reliability and stability of power supply.
“Today, we are commencing the distribution of transformers to communities across the 17 Local Government Areas of Abia State. This is in line with the directives of His Excellency, Governor Dr. Alex Otti, to enhance and consolidate electricity infrastructure within the state,”Monday said.
He added that the initiative was part of the administration’s broader commitment to extending electricity access to communities, particularly those that had experienced prolonged darkness as a result of transformer-related challenges.
“These transformers will be installed across various electricity networks within Umuahia and other parts of Abia to strengthen and boost electricity infrastructure.
“It is one of the programmes of the State Government to ensure that electricity reaches our people, especially those in rural communities that have remained without power due to transformer-related challenges,” he stated.
Engr. Monday disclosed that the ongoing distribution was only the first phase of the intervention, with 50 communities benefiting from the current exercise.
He further announced that an additional 50 communities would benefit from the second phase expected to commence in the third quarter of the year.
“This is the first batch, and within the third quarter, we intend to commence the second batch, which will also cover another 50 communities,” the Commissioner said.
He described the initiative as a continuous intervention designed to systematically address electricity challenges confronting communities across Abia State.
“It is a continuous intervention aimed at addressing electricity needs across the state,” he added.
Explaining how beneficiary communities were selected, the Commissioner said the Ministry adopted a needs-based and transparent process to ensure that areas facing the most critical electricity challenges were given priority.
According to him, although the government received applications from several communities, each request was subjected to proper assessment before the final selection was made.
“The selection is based primarily on need. We receive applications from different communities, but we carry out proper assessments because there are communities that already have two or three functional transformers and still apply whenever distribution is announced,” Engr. Monday explained.
He stressed that the government’s priority was to ensure that the intervention reached communities with genuine and pressing needs, while also taking into consideration the principle of first-come, first-served.
“Our responsibility is to ensure that transformers get to communities that genuinely require them. While we also observe the principle of first-come, first-served, priority is always given to areas with the greatest need,” he said.
On the protection of the transformers against vandalism and other forms of damage, Engr. Monday called on beneficiary communities to take ownership of the infrastructure, noting that safeguarding public facilities should be a collective responsibility.
He disclosed that every community receiving a transformer would be required to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry, committing to protect the facility.
“It is not the responsibility of the government alone. The communities must take ownership of these facilities because once a transformer is vandalized, the entire community is thrown into darkness,” the Commissioner said.
He further explained that the government was also working with relevant security agencies, including the military, police, Homeland Security and community vigilantes, to protect public infrastructure.
“Before any transformer is handed over, representatives of the benefiting community sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry, committing to protect the infrastructure.
“Government is also strengthening security through the military, the police, Homeland Security and community vigilantes, but community ownership remains the most effective safeguard,” he added.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiary communities, the member representing Umuahia Central State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Anthony Chinasa Abiola, who received a transformer on behalf of Ward 3, Umuahia Central, and the President-General of Okaiuga Nkwoegwu, Engr. Victor Ihediwa, expressed appreciation to Governor Alex Otti for the initiative and his administration’s efforts to improve electricity supply across the state.
They also commended the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Engr. Ikechukwu Monday, for what they described as the seamless distribution of the transformers.
The community representatives assured the government that the benefiting communities would take responsibility for protecting the transformers and ensuring that the facilities are put to effective use for the benefit of residents.
(The Whistler)