Abia Gov Launches Waste-to-Energy Project to Boost Electricity, Escapes National Grid Failures

The Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, has announced that the state is no longer experiencing power failures caused by frequent collapses of the National Grid, as his administration begins investing in converting organic waste into electricity.

Speaking to the media at the State Government House on Thursday, Governor Otti revealed that waste products are now being transformed into renewable energy through biogas.

He added that the state is no longer fully under the supervision of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

He further explained that the new arrangement has been negotiated and accepted by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), the utility firm responsible for power distribution in Abia.

“This is a pilot programme. Instead of discarding waste, we can convert it into clean energy, enabling us to power numerous areas, particularly the Umuahia in-farms,” he said.

Governor Otti added, “I had earlier reported that our proposals to EEDC have been accepted, and we are in the process of raising funds to settle obligations with them.

“On 24th December, the Abia State Electricity Regulation Authority took over the regulation of power from NERC. From now on, generation, transmission, and distribution will be regulated within the state.”

He highlighted that the initiative is aimed at improving efficiency and achieving energy independence, similar to how Aba Power provides electricity for the Aba in-farms.

“You may have noticed that during some recent national grid collapses, our state remained unaffected because a significant portion of our power infrastructure is now under our authority,” he said.

Governor Otti concluded by expressing optimism about the progress of the programme, “That is the entire purpose of acquiring the Umuahia in-farms, and I am pleased with the advancements we are making in this regard.”