…To take over Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene fed road
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Abia State Government said it had concluded negotiations on the “long-anticipated bid to acquire 60% stake of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC assets” in the state.
Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, who disclosed this during a press conference in Umuahia, said the company had accepted the State Government’s offer.
“The agreement automatically activates the next phase of the transactions aimed at ensuring that Abia State Government controls the generation, regulation and distribution of electric power in the eight ring fenced LGAS of Abia Central and North senatorial zones,” he said.
Kanu said that the negotiation was in line with the government’s vision to strengthen the power sector in the state, in order to drive the economic development of Abia State.
He said: “The long-anticipated bid to acquire 60% stake of EEDC assets in the state has come to fruition, with the acceptance of the state government’s offer by Interstate Electrics.
“With this laudable development, Abia State, particularly the eight local government areas that will be ring fenced under this arrangement, will experience a new lease of life with regards to their power needs.
“As the transaction further unfolds, we will keep you duly informed of developments,” Prince Kanu assured.
He said that the State Executive Council had approved the restoration of power supply to Ohafia, after many years of being in the dark.
The restoration, according to him, will enhance the development plans of the Greater Ohafia Development Authority.
He announced that the state government recently awarded contracts for the construction of five roads.
He hinted that two of the new road projects – the 25 km Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene road and the 13.1 km Ariam-Usaka ring road in Ikwuano LGA, would be flagged off by Gov. Otti on October 24.
According to the Commissioner, the rest of the roads set for construction are the 9.35km Ihechiowa-Arochukwu ring road, the 4.9km Isieketa-Mba Itungwa-Mgbedeala road, Isiala Ngwa South and the 3.72 km Ogidi-Umuala Eziama Ntigha road in Isiala Ngwa North LGA.
He said that the construction of these five roads are in line with the ongoing road infrastructural revolution of the present administration, and when completed, would open up the areas for business activities and development.
Prince Kanu equally announced that the state would on the 15th of this month join the rest of the world in celebrating this year’s “World Food Day” which is themed “Hand in Hand For Better Food and a Better Future” at the International Conference Center Umuahia.
He noted that this year’s theme underscores the importance of collective action in achieving sustainable, resilient and inclusive food systems and called on stakeholders in the agricultural sector to work in synergy towards ending hunger, improving nutrition as well as securing the future for all.
Contributing, the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Engr. Ikechukwu Monday confirmed the state has been in discussions with Interstate Electric, who owns 60% of EEDC assets, in the state. He also threw more light on the restoration of power in Ohafia.
“So we’ve concluded negotiations in terms of our bids. And this automatically activates the next phase of the transaction.
“To throw more light on the Ohafia power issue, which has been lingering for more than seven years.
“We’ve concluded plans to start. It has been approved by the state government. We’ll be mobilising to site this week.
“We’ve already started engaging the communities to provide support in partnership with Greater Ohafia Development Authority, GODA.
So this project’s target is that we’ll be able to return electricity supply to Ohafia before the end of the year.”
