Of all 12 electricity distribution companies (DisCos) in Nigeria, Aba Power is the only one with a record of providing constant power since the middle of last month.
This fact was made known today by a leading indigenous electric power consultant, Engineer Cliff Eneh, in a public statement made available to journalists.
“Aba Power deserves praise for achieving the feat of being Nigeria’s first DisCo in years to supply uninterrupted power for almost one month,” Engr Eneh, a former senior manager with the defunct National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), declared.
“Even when Heirs Energies, which provides the 188-megawatt Geometric Power Plant in the Osisioma Industrial Layout in Aba that, in turn, provides Aba Power with electricity, advised it at the weekend to shut down its plant because of the illegal connection on the Trans Niger Pipeline by oil thieves, the Aba Power chose to import electricity from the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) at a very high cost to satisfy its customers rather than throw them into darkness”.
Aba Power, Nigeria’s 12th and newest DisCo, was commissioned by Vice President Kashim Shettima on February 26, 2024.
Engr Eneh, a former engineer with Texas Power and Light in Dallas, United States, revealed that within seventeen hours of the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) rectifying the technical hitches caused by the petroleum vandals, electricity supply was fully restored in the Aba Ringfence, covering nine of the 17 Local Government Areas in Abia State.
“There is still hope for our country if such a young company, which was forced to suspend operations for 20 years because of the abuse of the privatization of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) in 2013 could be so professional and dedicated to the public good”, added the engineer who was also an academic and researcher at a higher institution in Lagos where he headed the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering.
According to the consultant, “this means that “uninterrupted, quality and affordable electricity to all in the Aba Ringfence may be nearer than most people expect.”
He advised the other 11 electricity distribution companies in Nigeria to see Aba Power’s achievements as a challenge to be taken up immediately in the national interest.
Eneh also counselled the authorities to find a quick and comprehensive solution to the gas supply crisis affecting all thermal plants in the country.
“Nigeria cannot be the world’s 9th largest gas reserve”, he stated, “yet there is not enough gas for the power companies, causing far-reaching socioeconomic and political problems.
“Regarding the activities of vandals, the use of technology will go a long way to end them or, at least, reduce the activities to the barest minimum”.