Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has announced plans to purchase the Umuahia branch of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) to ensure a steady power supply to the state capital.

Speaking on Monday at the Geometric Power Station in Aba, Otti explained that while Geometric Power currently supplies electricity to nine of Abia’s 17 local government areas, Umuahia and seven other areas remain under EEDC’s control. He revealed that the acquisition would enable his administration to channel excess electricity from Geometric Power to Umuahia, significantly improving power delivery.

“We are in the process of buying EEDC and restructuring Umuahia. By tomorrow (Tuesday), we will be making an offer to EEDC. We have done all the due diligence, we have done all the evaluations,” Otti shared at an event organized by Geometric Power, according to his spokesperson, Ukoha Njoku.

The event also saw the commissioning of the new “2 X 15 MVA, Ogbor Hill Sub-Station” by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Geometric Power, founded by former Minister of Power, Barth Nnaji, generates 188 megawatts and supplies power to Aba and surrounding areas through its subsidiary, Aba Power Limited Electric. With 11 substations and about 80 megawatts of excess capacity, Otti sees an opportunity to redirect surplus electricity to Umuahia.

“Ordinarily, what would happen is for that excess power to be injected into the national grid. But with deregulation, our discussion with Geometric Power is about wheeling that excess into the Umuahia ring-fence. So, once we are in control, that excess power will go to Umuahia,” he explained.

Otti commended Obasanjo for his early efforts to secure Aba’s power supply and praised Prof. Nnaji for his investment in the state’s energy sector.