Aba Blackout: Uzodike Leads Assembly Intervention, Demands Answers as Seven-Day Power Outage Grounds Businesses, Vows Close Monitoring Until Electricity Returns

The Chairman of the Abia State House of Assembly Committee on Power and Public Utilities, Hon. Aaron Uzodike, has led an intervention by the State Assembly over the six-day electricity blackout that has plunged Aba and other local government areas served by Aba Power Limited into darkness.

The prolonged power outage, which Aba Power Limited attributed to a disruption in gas supply, has crippled industrial activities, disrupted commercial operations and left thousands of households without electricity across the Aba Ring-fenced Area.

Determined to ascertain the true cause of the outage and seek immediate solutions, Hon. Uzodike, accompanied by a member of the Committee, Hon. Stephen Ucheonye, paid an oversight visit to the headquarters of Aba Power Limited in Aba.

The lawmakers expressed deep concern over the impact of the blackout on residents, manufacturers, business owners and artisans, stressing that the Assembly could not remain silent while economic activities in the commercial hub of Abia State continued to suffer.

They explained that the visit formed part of the Assembly’s constitutional oversight responsibility and its commitment to obtaining first-hand information on the circumstances surrounding the prolonged power outage, while ensuring that consumers receive the quality service they deserve.

Receiving the lawmakers, the Chairman of Aba Power Limited, Professor Barth Nnaji, alongside members of the company’s management, explained that the electricity disruption was caused by the inability of the company’s gas supplier to deliver gas following the damage to critical equipment, including the switchgear and starter motor, used in the supplier’s operations.

Professor Nnaji expressed regret over the hardship the outage has caused residents and businesses, appealing to customers for understanding. He assured the lawmakers that electricity supply would be restored immediately gas supply resumes.

Responding, Hon. Aaron Uzodike said the Committee would continue to monitor the situation closely until electricity is fully restored to all affected communities.

The Committee Chairman stressed that reliable electricity remains critical to the growth of Aba’s industrial and commercial economy, warning that industries cannot operate efficiently, businesses cannot expand and artisans cannot thrive in an environment plagued by persistent power challenges.

He reassured residents that the Abia State House of Assembly would continue to engage relevant stakeholders and exercise its oversight responsibility to ensure that power consumers are not left in prolonged darkness without accountability or timely solutions.