GOVERNOR OTTI MOVES TO CUT ABIA OFF NATIONAL GRID

The Abia State Government has declared its intention to achieve total energy independence by decoupling the state from Nigeria’s frequently collapsing national electricity grid. Governor Alex Otti, who announced the bold move on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, revealed that the state is already importing high-capacity turbines to spearhead an autonomous power generation era for the “God’s Own State.”

Addressing stakeholders on the state’s industrial future, Governor Otti explained that the decision was born out of the persistent failure of the national grid to provide stable and reliable electricity for residents and the buzzing commercial hubs of Aba and Umuahia. By generating its own power, the state government aims to provide 24-hour electricity that will serve as the backbone for local businesses and a major magnet for international investors.

Reports that the shift to an independent power supply will be a gradual process, starting with the installation of the new turbine units to significantly boost local generation capacity. The Governor maintained that Abia can no longer afford to tie its economic growth to the uncertainties of the national power architecture, stressing that steady electricity is a non-negotiable right for the people of the state.

The move has been hailed by members of the organized private sector in the Southeast, who believe that an independent Abia grid will drastically reduce the cost of production for manufacturers. As the state prepares to roll out its own energy infrastructure, Governor Otti assured that once the technical transition is complete, the state will move fully to its independent supply, effectively ending the era of total dependence on the national grid.