……………Sets To Reconstruct Omenuko Bridge.
FIC Report (Abia State) – In a bid to have an independent electric power, the Abia State Government (ABSG) has sent the Abia State Electricity Bill to the State House of Assembly for consideration.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this while briefing the press in Government House, Umuahia.
According to the Commissioner, the State House of Assembly would, on the 18th of this month, conduct a public hearing on the executive bill.
Prince Kanu, who highlighted the importance of the electricity bill, stressed the need for all stakeholders to participate in the public hearing.
“All the critical stakeholders are expected to be there and make inputs on how to make the process of enacting that bill, and come up with a robust idea that will address issues of electricity in our state,”
Kanu stated.
He informed that the “Light Up Abia Initiative” is still on, saying that the focus used to be on the major cities of Aba, Umuahia and Ohafia but now, it is going into other areas including, Bende, Ugwunagbo and Osisioma LGAs adding that so far, the Light Up Abia Initiative has have reached 28 areas.
The Commissioner announced that Governor Alex Otti has approved the reconstruction of the long abandoned iconic Omenuko bridge at Ozuabam in Arochukwu LGA, a bridge that links Abia North and Abia Central senatorial zones.
“For decades, a lot of politicians have taken undue advantage of the re-rickety nature of that bridge to make promises to people around that area till date, they have never fulfilled.
“His Excellency, Dr Alex Otti, has ordered that that bridge be reconstructed to serve the people from that area.”
The Commissioner said that the flag off of the project would be announced soon maintained that repairing the bridge would be of great benefit for the people.
He highlighted the economic benefits of the airport project at Ubaha Nsulu in Isialangwa North
to Abia residents, including investments and tourism, among others
He equally said that issues of protest and agitation by few members of the host communities have been taken care of.
The Commissioner appreciated the recent primary health care 400 Dollar UNICEF prize won by Abia State and said that the credit really goes to governor Otti for his efforts in the health sector and revealed that the “Project Ekwueme” being the reconstruction of 200 primary health care centres across the wards in Abia in 100 is ongoing. He also announced that the Ministry of Health would soon embark on free surgery for persons with hydrocele.
The Commissioner reiterated the commitment of the state government to providing security, especially this yuletide, and said that there is a need for the people to always give useful information to the security agencies.
He announced that the Abia State Head of Service, Dr. Mrs Ngozi Queen Obioma would be retiring from service this December and disclosed that Governor Alex Otti had at the Executive Council meeting congratulated her on quality service delivered to the state and wished her well.
Speaking on the merits of the Abia State Electricity Bill, the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Mr. Ikechukwu Monday said that the law would act as a catalyst to achieve the goal of the governor, which is to provide access to electricity to both the unserved and the underserved Abians.
“It’s a law that will be tailored to creating the Abia State electricity market. As we know, last year, the Electricity Act 2023 was passed into law, which gives states and sub nationals the framework and mandate to create their own electricity market.
“We are looking at the full value chain, from generation to transmission to distribution. So, for Abia state, we are creating a market, an electricity market that will be competitive and efficient.
“This will help to promote industrialization. As we know our people are gifted and without electricity there is no way we can achieve that that social economic growth of the state and that s why we took this time to draft this bill,” Monday stated.
Mr. Monday further said that if passed into law, three organizations would be created from the executive bill.
“Out of this bill, if passed into law, some three organizations will be coming out of it, one will be Abia State Electricity Regulatory Authority, Rural Electrification Agency and the Abia State Electricity Fund”.
He explained that the regulatory authority would regulate all the sectors in the market, the rural electrification agency would take care of mostly the underserved while the electricity fund would be supporting to ensure that adequate infrastructure is provided and government can intervene in cases where people cannot afford to pay the tariff.
The Special Adviser to the governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, and the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Ukoha Njoku Ukoha was present at the briefing.
Signed
Abiakam Gloria Ify
HOC, FIC, Umuahia.
