Several communities in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State now receive electricity from Aba Power, Nigeria’s twelfth and youngest power distribution company (DisCo) based in Aba, Abia State.
The communities, some of which had been without electricity for years, were switched on last week and have now enjoyed uninterrupted power supply for one week.
“My joy knows no bounds as my people now have constant, quality and affordable electricity for the first time in years”, an excited chairman of Etche LGA, Chima Njoku, declared to a large gathering of people from the LGA who thronged his office to show appreciation.
“I now feel like Simeon, the godly old man in the bible who sang for joy on living to see the Infant Jesus Christ dedicated at the temple,” he said
Mrs. Bernadette Obi, who runs a fishing business in Umuola, one of the communities now having power, was full of praise for the LGA Chairman: “The Honorable Chima Njoku, pledged during his electioneering campaign to solve the perennial electricity problem in our LGA if elected. He has kept his word. He is an exceptional public servant.”
Mrs. Obi revealed that the LG boss purchased a number of distribution transformers for various communities to ensure that as many homes and villages as possible were carried along in the new electrification arrangement.
The fish farmer added that Njoku took the initiative to approach Aba Power to connect the communities to their distribution network because of the DisCo’s reputation for service quality.
Edise Ekong, Aba Power Senior Brand and Communication Manager, confirmed to newsmen that it was indeed Chief 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 in his LGA”.
Edise expressed delight that the communities are satisfied with not just regular power supply from Aba Power but also the quality and tariff.
“It has been a week now that electricity has not blinked for a second in these communities of Rivers State”, he declared. “We are glad to be part of that success story “
“Once there is gas supply, all our customers will continue to enjoy uninterrupted electricity except there are local issues like trucks hitting our poles and overhead wires, or vandalism of our distribution infrastructure by miscreants”.
Edise also confirmed that state governments, communities, and big manufacturing firms outside the nine 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.
“Supplying Etche LGA is a historical.milestone marking the extension of our services beyond Aba and Abia State. It is an ongoing process. We will be glad to bring more areas and states onboard at the right time,” he added..
