Kehinde Fajobi
Residents in the Aba Ringfence, covering nine of Abia State’s 17 local government areas, have experienced their first power outage following an attack on gas pipelines supplying the Aba Power Plant.
The incident, attributed to vandals targeting crude oil and petroleum products, occurred over the weekend and disrupted the Eastern Gas Network, the main gas supplier to the power station.
In a statement on Monday, Aba Power Managing Director Ugo Opiegbe confirmed the development, apologising to customers after a record 31 days of uninterrupted electricity.
“After 31 days of constant power supply, residents in the Aba Ringfence, comprising nine of the 17 local government areas in Abia State, experienced their first power outage this weekend,” Opiegbe said.
He added, “We apologise for losing supplies from Heirs Energies, in partnership with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
“We deeply apologise to our numerous customers who have enjoyed continuous supply since December 17, making them the first set of electricity consumers in Nigeria to experience such service in several years.”
While Opiegbe refrained from disclosing the exact cause of the disruption, sources revealed that vandals had damaged the gas pipelines while seeking crude oil and petroleum products to steal.
The proximity of gas and oil pipelines often makes them a target for theft.
Despite the setback, Opiegbe noted that some areas within the Aba Ringfence still have power.
“We quickly switched to the Niger Delta Power Holding Company for a quick fix because we don’t want our cherished customers, who have been expressing satisfaction with our service since December, to be without power,” he explained.
However, he acknowledged the challenges of limited supply, saying, “The problem we are facing is that not all of them are benefiting from the NDPHC supplies because the supply is limited.”
Opiegbe assured residents of a swift resolution, promising, “We will not rest until consumers in all nine LGAs in our coverage area begin to enjoy uninterrupted electricity once again.”