The Abia State Ministry of Power and Public Utilities has released a final draft of the state’s mini-grid regulation, as part of a major move to boost the ongoing reforms in the state’s power sector in the state.
The state Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists on the outcome of this week’s executive council meeting presided by Governor Alex Otti.
He said the draft was developed to support the expansion of reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity, electricity access across underserved and unserved communities in the state.
He said, “This initiative aligns with the broader vision of Governor Alex Otti to enhance rural electrification through private sector participation and enabling regulatory certainty for mini-grid development.
“The draft regulation outlines the legal, technical and commercial framework for mini-grid operations. And it is a vital step towards building a transparent and enabling environment for decentralised energy systems in the state.
“When this initiative becomes fully operational, it is expected that communities in Abia senatorial part of the state, which has been battling the power outage, will benefit immensely from this initiative.
“But this is not to downplay the essence of this initiative in other parts of the state when it becomes fully operational. It will be a state-wide implementation.”
Kanu also revealed that a 10-man Abia Advisory Council on Electricity will be inaugurated on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
He said the council will render professional advice to the governor on issues concerning power and electricity in the state.
“This, of course, forms one of the strategic steps taken by the state government to improve on the power sector of the state,” he stated.
The state information boss said the Okwoyi Water Scheme project, located in Niseke, Ibeku, and Umuahia North Local Government Area, will be inaugurated on July 23, 2025, in line with the governor’s promise to provide potable water for every household in the state.
Kanu also disclosed that the Abia football competition that is designed to run from the wards to the Local Government level and to the state level, tagged Abia Soccer Fest, has kicked off, with community play-offs in the various local government areas of the state.
The chairman of the 33-man local government organising committee of the competition, Mr John Udeagbala, has assured all that all necessary arrangements have been put in place to ensure a cheat-free competition across the state.
Kanu also announced that the Abia Techrise Cohort 2 CBT exams have been fixed for Friday, July 25, 2025.
“All successful applicants will receive updates about the exam before the 25th of July. So far, a total of 8,167 applications have been received,” he said.
The Commissioner for Power and Utility, Ikechukwu Monday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma; and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, were present during the briefing.
