”How Abia Is Powering Through Blackouts With Clean Energy”
In a striking departure from national power woes, parts of Abia State
especially the commercial hub of Aba continued to enjoy uninterrupted electricity despite the nationwide grid collapse on January 27.
Governor Alex Otti has revealed the secret: clean, homegrown energy.
In a video shared online, Governor Otti explained that Abia is fast-tracking a clean energy revolution, beginning with a pilot biogas-powered electricity initiative. The innovative move taps into organic waste, converting it into renewable energy that powers homes and businesses.
”Rather than disposing of organic waste, we now convert it into clean energy using cutting-edge technology,” Otti said. “This initiative is already powering key parts of Aba, and we’re scaling it to Umuahia and beyond.”
Otti noted that the state is also in advanced talks to take over power distribution across more zones. Abia’s government has made an offer to the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) and is currently raising funds to acquire and manage the Umuahia Ring Fence.
He added that since December 24, the newly established Abia State Electricity Authority has been overseeing generation, transmission, and distribution in the state—effectively localizing energy governance.
”We want energy sufficiency and independence,” Otti said. “The fact that we stayed lit while others went dark shows we’re on the right path.”
With plans to replicate the success of Aba Power across the state, Abia is emerging as a bold case study in how subnational governments can rethink power—from waste to watts.