Arrangements have reached the final stage for the Abia State Government to acquire a 60 percent stake in the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) from Interstate Electric, the firm’s major shareholder.
Under the new ownership structure, the state government will assume control over power generation, regulation, and distribution across the eight ring-fenced local government areas in Abia Central and Abia North senatorial zones.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists at the Government House, Umuahia, on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting.
He said the move aligns with the administration’s vision to reform the power sector as part of its wider industrial and economic development strategy.
“With this laudable development, Abia State, particularly the eight ring-fenced local government areas, will experience a new lease of life regarding their power needs,” Kanu assured.
In a related development, he announced that the government has approved the restoration of electricity to Ohafia before the end of the year to end years of blackout in the community. The restoration project, he said, would support the Greater Ohafia Development Authority (GODA) in driving local growth.
Kanu further revealed that on Friday, October 24, the 25-kilometre Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene federal road—recently handed over to the Abia State Government for reconstruction by President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi—will be officially flagged off.
The Commissioner also listed new road contracts approved by the government, including:
- The 13.1km Ariam–Usaka Ring Road in Ikwuano LGA
- The 9.35km Ihechiowa–Arochukwu Ring Road
- The 4.9km Isieketa–Mba Itungwa–Mgbedeala Road in Isiala Ngwa South
- The 3.72km Ogidi–Umuala Eziama Ntigha Road in Isiala Ngwa North.
He said the roads are part of the administration’s infrastructure renewal programme, aimed at opening up communities for trade, mobility, and rural development.
Kanu also announced that the state will join the global community on Thursday, October 16, to commemorate this year’s World Food Day at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia. The event, themed “Hand-in-Hand for Better Food and a Better Future,” will promote collaborative efforts to achieve sustainable food systems.
He urged stakeholders in the agricultural sector to work together to combat hunger, improve nutrition, and ensure food security.
The Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Engr. Ikechukwu Monday, also confirmed that discussions with Interstate Electric had been concluded.
“We’ve finalised negotiations on our bids, which automatically activates the next phase of the transaction,” he said. “It has been approved by the state government, and we’ll be mobilising to site this week. We’ve also started engaging the communities to provide support in partnership with the Greater Ohafia Development Authority. Our target is to restore electricity to Ohafia before the end of the year.”
